Port of Zeebrugge explained

Port of Zeebrugge
Country:	Belgium
Location:	Bruges, Flanders
Locode:	BEZEE^[1]
Pushpin Map:	yes
Cargotonnage:	over 50 million tonnes (2012)^[2]
Website:	www.zeebruggeport.be

The Port of Zeebrugge (also referred to as the Port of Bruges or Bruges Seaport) is a large container, bulk cargo, new vehicles and passenger ferry terminal port on the North Sea. The port is located in the municipality of Bruges, West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium, handling over 50 million tonnes of cargo annually.^[3]

The port of Zeebrugge is managed by the port authority MBZ (Maatschappij van de Brugse Zeehaven - translated: 'Company of the Bruges Seaport'), an autonomous company regulated by public law, the city of Bruges being the main shareholder.

History

Zeebrugge is a multifaceted port that handles a wide range of trades: unit loads (trailers and containers), new cars, conventional general cargo, 'high & heavy' cargoes, dry and liquid bulk cargoes and natural gas. From a purely transit port Zeebrugge has gradually evolved into a centre for European distribution.

The port has become a major European port since major development works were carried in the 1972 to 1985 period. Since then total tonnage has doubled. As of 2008, Bruges-Zeebrugge is one of the fastest growing ports between Le Havre and Hamburg.^[4] It is Europe's leading RoRo port, handling 12.5 million mt in 2010, and the world's largest port for imports and exports of new vehicles, with over 1.6 million units handled in 2010 (24.5% less than in 2008 due to the economical crises). It is also Europe's largest terminal for liquefied natural gas (LNG),^[5] receiving natural gas from the Troll gas field via the 814km (506miles) long Zeepipe under the North Sea. LNG is also delivered in specialized gas tankers from various origins, like Africa, Australia or the Middle East. Zeebrugge counts as one of the most important ports in Europe for containerized cargo as well, handling over 2.5 million TEUs in 2010.

The port employs directly over 11,000 people and handles over 10,000 ship moorings annually. Together with the indirect employees, the port creates over 28,000 jobs.

The most important functions of the port are:

• Intense RoRo traffic between the Continent, Great Britain, Scandinavia and Southern Europe;
• European hub port for the automotive industry;
• Container port with a good nautical accessibility for + 19,000 TEU ships;
• Import of Liquefied Natural Gas and energy products;
• Handling, storage and distribution of perishables and other agricultural products;
• Handling of conventional general cargo and 'high & heavy' cargoes;
• Passenger transport;
• Organisation of the European distribution via an intricate network of hinterland connections.

Advantages of the port

The port complex of Bruges-Zeebrugge offers several main assets, which will allow volumes to develop even further in the years to come, namely,

• The favourable geographical position:
  • On the coast of the North Sea, the busiest sea in the world;
  • Central in relation to other North Sea ports;
  • Within a short distance of Great Britain;
  • Close to many major, densely populated and industrialised cities;
• Good nautical accessibility with a deep water draught in the approaches and at the berths;
• Good road and rail connections to all countries of Continental Europe;
• Several daily liner services to Great Britain and to other ports in northern and southern Europe, Zeebrugge being the cross-roads for traffic in all directions;
• A network of intercontinental and intra-European container services;
• Modern port equipment, recently established, which meets all the expectations of modern shipping and handling techniques;
• A large potential of skilled labour achieving high productivity.

Ferry routes

The following ferry operators operate regular scheduled, international routes to and from Zeebrugge.

Terminals

As of July 2015:

Terminal	Type	Website
Outer port
Zeebrugge International Port (ZIP)	paper and multi-purpose terminal	^[6]
Zeebrugge International Port (ZIP)	deepsea container terminal	^[7]
Container Handling Zeebrugge (CHZ)	deepsea container terminal	^[8]
Verbrugge Terminals Zeebrugge	breakbulk terminal	^[9]
APM Terminals Zeebrugge	deepsea container terminal	^[10]
	roro terminal	^[11]
	roro terminal	^[12]
Fluxys - LNG Terminal	terminal for liquefied natural gas	^[13]
C.RO Terminal Brittaniadok, Hermeskaai, Minervaplein	roro terminal	^[14]
C.RO Terminal Zweedse Kaai	roro terminal
Euroservices NV	terminal for the purging of gas-carriers	^[15]
Inner port Zeebrugge
ICO Terminals Northern Inlet dock	roro terminal for new cars and breakbulk	^[16]
ICO Terminals Bastenakenkade	roro terminal for new cars	^[17]
Sea-Invest, Belgian New Fruit Wharf	terminal for general cargo and fruit	^[18]
Sea-Invest, Flanders Cold Center - Tropicana	terminal for general cargo packing installation for fruit juices	^[19]
Tate & Lyle Molasses		^[20]
Vlaamse Visveiling	fish auction	^[21]
Zeebrugge Food Logistics	deepfreeze warehouse	^[22]
Hanson Europe	sand and gravel terminal	^[23]
Borlix	terminal for agricultural products	^[24]
Decloedt Dredging	maintenance and storage facility	^[25]
	roro terminal for new cars	^[26]
C.RO Terminal Canadakaai	roro terminal for new cars
Fluxys - peak shaving installation	terminal for storage of liquefied natural gas	^[27]
	terminal for the gas pipeline "Zeepipe" from Norway	^[28]
	dedicated autoterminal	^[29]
CdMZ	roro terminal for new cars	^[30]
Seabridge/Efico	terminal for storage and distribution of green coffee	^[31]
Bridgestone Logistics	terminal for storage of tyres	^[32]
Brit European Transport	international transport, storage and distribution of floor coverings	^[33]
Progeco	container depot at Jozef Verschaeveweg	^[34]
Transportzone Zeebrugge
Interconnector	terminal for gas pipeline "Interconnector" from Bacton (UK)	^[35]
European Container Services ECS	intermodal transport and logistics	^[36]
2XL	intermodal transport and logistics	^[37]
Middlegate Europe	intermodal transport and logistics	^[38]
Huktra	intermodal transport of tank containers	^[39]
North Sea Express	international transport	^[40]
Britlink	international transport	^[41]
Inner port Bruges
Nieuwpoortse Handelsmaatschappij	sand and gravel terminal	^[42]
Alzagri	sand and gravel terminal	^[43]
Hanson	sand and gravel terminal
Seaport Shipping & Trading	terminal for general cargo, project cargo and bulk cargo	^[44]
Minne Port Services	terminal for general cargo, project cargo and bulk cargo	^[45]
Beveco	peat terminal	^[46]
Denolf Recycling	recycling terminal	^[47]
Flanders Ship Repair / Longueville	ship repair	^[48]
Marpos	waste treatment	^[49]
Tomar Kolen	coal terminal	^[50]
ABN Transport	exceptional transport	^[51]
Solid	timber terminal	^[52]

Historical events

• 1866 Mr, a Ghent Alderman describes the project of connecting his town with the sea in a public conference. He is known as the father of the Zeebrugge port.
• 1894 Belgian parliament votes the law approving the construction of Port of Heyst
• The port was inaugurated on 23 July 1907 by King Leopold II, who arrived by sea.
• On 23 April 1918, the port was the target of the Zeebrugge Raid by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. This was an attempt to block access to and from the port by intentionally sinking ships to block the canal entrance, thus preventing its use by German ships and submarines. Eight participants in the raid were awarded the Victoria Cross.
• October 1918, the capture of Zeebrugge by the Allies.
• On 6 March 1987, the ferry Herald of Free Enterprise (owned by Townsend-Thoresen) was just outside the port when it took on water due to the bow doors remaining open, became unstable and capsized, killing 193 passengers.
• On 16 August 2014, 35 people of an Afghan origin, were found in a container at Tilbury Docks that had originated from The Bruges-Zeebruge port. All were suspected to be dehydrated and 1 man died from his injuries.

See also

• Zeebrugge Hub

Bibliography

• A. de Maere-Limnander, (1866). Des communications directes du port de Gand à la mer. Canal de Terneuzen - Canal de Heyst: conférence donnée au Cercle Commercial et Industriel de Gand. Imprimerie et Lithographie C. Annoot-Braeckman: Gand, Belgium. 52, plates I-II pp.,
• A. de Maere-Limnander, (1877). D'une communication directe de Bruges à la mer. Imprimerie Houdmont, Frères: Bruges, Belgium. 57, plates I-IV pp
• J. Nyssens-Hart, Le Port de vitesse de Heyst. (Actuellement port de Zeebrugge) avec cartes (circa 1895).
• J. Nyssens-Hart et J. Zone, Le port de vitesse de Heyst. 120 pp. avec planches couleurs. (circa 1895)
• J. Nyssens-Hart The Outer Port and the Inner Port of Bruges. Brussels, A. Lesigne, 1898, 43 pp. Online at Flandrica.be
• U. Naert, (1977). Baron August de Maere d'Aertrycke: vader van Brugge-Zeehaven. chez l'Auteur à Eernegem, Belgique. 148 pp
• E. Bilé; E. Trips, (1970). Zeebrugge: een haven in de branding 1895–1970. Brugsch Handelsblad: Belgium. 244 pp.
• Anon. (1995). Tentoonstelling 100 jaar Zeehaven Brugge 8 juli-20 September 1995. Zeehaven Brugge: Brugge, Belgium. 184 pp.,

Notes and References

1. Web site: UNLOCODE (BE) - BELGIUM . service.unece.org . . 17 April 2020.
2. Web site: Zeebrugge cargo throughput rises by 11 % | Port of Zeebrugge . 6 March 2011 . 23 August 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110823182704/http://www.portofzeebrugge.be/en/node/788 . dead .
3. Web site: Zeebrugge cargo throughput rises by 11% | Port of Zeebrugge . Portofzeebrugge.be . 28 December 2010 . 6 March 2017 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110823182704/http://www.portofzeebrugge.be/en/node/788 . 23 August 2011 .
4. Web site: Invest in Flanders . Investinflanders.com . 6 March 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110831131319/http://www.investinflanders.com/en/infrastructure/ports/zeebrugge/ . 31 August 2011 . dead .
5. Web site: WINGAS GmbH & Co. KG: Zeebrugge. 19 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110719114425/http://www.wingas.de/zeebrugge.html?&L=1. 19 July 2011.
6. Web site: Terminals in Zeebrugge | PSA Zeebrugge . Psa-zeebrugge.be . 6 March 2017.
7. Web site: Terminals in Zeebrugge | PSA Zeebrugge . Psa-zeebrugge.be . 6 March 2017.
8. Web site: Container Handling Zeebrugge (CHZ) | PSA Zeebrugge . Psa-zeebrugge.be . 6 March 2017.
9. Web site: Home - Verbrugge International EN . Verbruggeinternational.com . 6 March 2017.
10. Web site: Zeebrugge . Apmterminals.com . 27 February 2017 . 6 March 2017 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140620191636/http://www.apmterminals.com/europe/zeebrugge/ . 20 June 2014 .
11. Web site: Hull To Rotterdam | Daily Crossings | P&O Ferries - UK . Poferries.com . 6 March 2017.
12. Web site: DFDS Seaways' Rosyth - Zeebrugge freight ferry shipping route - DFDSSeaways.com/Freight. https://web.archive.org/web/20101207151114/http://freight.dfdsseaways.com/dfds_ferries/north_sea_ferries/rosyth_zeebrugge_ferries/. 7 December 2010.
13. Web site: Zeebrugge LNG terminal . Fluxys.com . 6 March 2017.
14. Web site: C.RO - Ports - Stevedoring - Services . Croports.com . 6 March 2017.
15. Web site: Hoppe . Hoppe Maritime Group . Purging-euroservices.be . 10 December 2016 . 6 March 2017.
16. Web site: ICO | Northern Inlet Terminal. 17 July 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090717021455/http://www.icoterminals.com/terminals/detail_en.phtml?id=7. 17 July 2009.
17. Web site: ICO | Bastenaken Terminal. 17 July 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090717021449/http://www.icoterminals.com/terminals/detail_en.phtml?id=6. 17 July 2009.
18. Web site: SEA-invest | An ocean of opportunities . Sea-invest.be . 6 March 2017 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100415022603/http://www.sea-invest.be/item_detail.asp?ID=107 . 15 April 2010 .
19. Web site: SEA-invest | An ocean of opportunities . Sea-invest.be . 6 March 2017 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100415022927/http://www.sea-invest.be/item_detail.asp?ID=109 . 15 April 2010 .
20. Web site: Tate & Lyle Home . Tateandlyle.com . 6 March 2017.
21. Web site: Vlaamse Visveiling N.V. https://web.archive.org/web/20010124020300/http://www.zv.be/. 24 January 2001.
22. Web site: Welcome . Zfl.be . 6 March 2017.
23. Web site: Hanson UK | Hanson UK . Heidelbergcement.com . 6 March 2017.
24. Web site: Borlix nv | extrusie, op-en overslag, extrusiebehandeling, stockage van plantaardige landbouwgrondstoffen . Borlix.be . 6 March 2017.
25. Web site: | Baggerwerken Decloedt | DEME Group | . Decloedt.be . 6 March 2017.
26. Web site: Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics - Zeebrugge Terminal. 14 January 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100114061452/http://www.2wglobal.com/www/productsServices/productsServices/terminalServices/Zeebrugge.jsp. 14 January 2010.
27. Web site: Fluxys . Fluxys . 6 March 2017.
28. Web site: Gassco | Belgium and France. 4 May 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090504145420/http://www.gassco.no/wps/wcm/connect/gassco-en/Gassco/Home/var-virksomhet/mottaksterminaler/Belgia-Frankrike/. 4 May 2009.
29. Web site: Toyota - Altijd beter, altijd verder . Nl.toyota.be . 6 March 2017 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070505020807/http://nl.toyota.be/about/belgie/belgium.aspx . 5 May 2007 .
30. Web site: Cobelfret - RoRo - Transport - Trailers - Containers - Shipping Lines - UK - Scandinavia - Europe. 15 September 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090915195621/http://www.cobelfret.com/terminals_zeebrugge.html. 15 September 2009.
31. Web site: Seabridge Homepage | Seabridge . Seabridge.eu . 6 March 2017.
32. Web site: Bridgestone Global Website . Bridgestone.com . 6 March 2017.
33. Web site: bet.be . For Sale | Undeveloped . Bet.be . 5 September 2016 . 6 March 2017.
34. Web site: Progeco. 23 November 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20061123131347/http://www.progeco.fr/accueil_uk.htm. 23 November 2006.
35. Web site: Interconnector. https://web.archive.org/web/20040225182135/http://www.interconnector.com/PhysicalOps/Zeebrugge.htm. 25 February 2004.
36. Web site: ECS European Containers - Creating Reliable logistics - International 45ft container transport . www.ecs.be . 13 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090120083826/http://www.ecs.be/functions/home.aspx?Pag=1&pnav=;1;&lang=en . 20 January 2009 . dead.
37. Web site: Home - 2XL . 2xl.be . 6 March 2017.
38. Web site: Transport and groupage, warehousing Middlegate Europe N.V. . www.middlegate.be . 13 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20010715033318/http://www.middlegate.be/ . 15 July 2001 . dead.
39. Web site: Huktra NV . Huktra.com . 6 March 2017.
40. Web site: NSE | North Sea Express . nl. Nse-transport.be . 6 March 2017.
41. Web site: Britlink | . www.britlink.be . 13 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110706133146/http://www.britlink.be/uk/index.htm . 6 July 2011 . dead.
42. Web site: NHM: Producer and supplier of sand, gravel, limestone, dolomite, parkgold, sandstone, porphyry . www.nhm.be . 13 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20030913171906/http://www.nhm.be/index.eng.htm . 13 September 2003 . dead.
43. Web site: Alzagri nv - Algemene zand en grindhandelmaatschappij nv . Alzagri.be . 6 March 2017.
44. Web site: Transhipment in the harbour of Bruges: Seaport Shipping home . Seaportshipping.be . 6 March 2017.
45. Web site: Minne Port Services N.V. . www.minne.be . 13 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110823163306/http://www.minne.be/en/?sitelanguage=en . 23 August 2011 . dead.
46. Web site: Beveco . Beveco.be . 6 March 2017.
47. Web site: Denolf Recycling . 11 November 2012 . dead . https://archive.today/20130115023550/http://www.denolf-recycling.be/denolfrecycling/ . 15 January 2013 .
48. Web site: Flanders Ship Repair Zeebrugge, scheepsherstelling, industrieel onderhoud, lassen, machinewerk, technische leveringen . Fsr.be . 6 March 2017.
49. Web site: Home - Marpos NV Dudzele – Uw specialist in de verwerking van maritiem afval - Marpos - Zeebrugge (Brugge) . Marpos.info . 6 March 2017.
50. Web site: Kolen Tomar bvba . www.kolentomar.com . 13 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20091016071742/http://www.kolentomar.com/en/index.html . 16 October 2009 . dead.
51. Web site: ABN Transport :: Welcome! . Abntransport.be . 6 March 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160818010710/http://www.abntransport.be/start/home/en . 18 August 2016 . dead .
52. Web site: Home - Solid NV. 24 October 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20071024111337/http://www.solidnv.com/start/home/en. 24 October 2007.