Port of Antwerp

As a result, the port of Antwerp has become one of Europe's largest seaports, ranking second behind Rotterdam by total freight shipped.

When the Belgian Revolution broke out in 1830, there was a well-founded fear that the Dutch would blockade the Scheldt again but, in the event, they contented themselves with levying a stiff toll.

By that time, the Kattendijk Dock had been completed in 1860 and the all important Iron Rhine Railway to the Ruhr had been finished in 1879.

Walcheren was the key that allowed use of the port, located further upstream on the right bank of the southern estuary of the river.

Walcheren was attacked by Canadian and British forces and on 8 November all German resistance on the island had been overrun.

The first US cargo vessel James B. Weaver arrived on 28 November 1944[6] with men of the 268th Port Company and their equipment on board.

After the close of the hostilities in Europe, the port was used for shipments of ammunition, vehicles, tanks and personnel to the Pacific.

[7] When peace returned, work started on the Grote Doorsteek, an ambitious plan which ultimately resulted in the extension of the docklands on the right bank of the Scheldt to the Dutch border.

This grand concept had the advantage that it would cut off the difficult bend known as the Bocht van Bath and facilitate access to deep draught ships.

Nowadays, the trades handled in the Vrasene Dock include forest products, fruit juice, cars, plastic granulates, scrap and bulk gas.

[14] Since 2015, the north side of the dock is operated by the joint venture between MSC and PSA international, commonly referred to as MPET.

In October 2010, the port approved a long-term investment plan, worth 1.6 billion Euros over the next 15 years.

[15] The port would improve existing facilities, and acquire land from General Motors, which is closing its Antwerp factory.

In October 2019, the Port of Antwerp began using a dual-fuel tug that is powered by hydrogen and diesel (called HydroTug).

[18] In July 2020, the total throughput of the Port of Antwerp fell by 4.9% in the first half of the year compared to the same period in 2019.

This 1897 map clearly shows the state of dock development at the end of the 19th century. The docks on the south side of the city (at bottom) were filled in during the 1970s.
Antwerp's infrastructure before works started on the Deurganck Dock. The Scheldt runs from south to north between the geometrical outlines of the docks on the left and right banks. Other details include the Brussels–Scheldt Maritime Canal at bottom centre, the Albert Canal (the thin line running South East from the docks), the Rhine-Scheldt Junction Canal (top centre), and the Ghent–Terneuzen Canal at top left. [ 9 ]
The Port of Antwerp as seen from a commercial airliner. The Right Bank runs from the middle left side to the bottom right side of the photo. The Scheldt runs below from the middle left side to the middle bottom side. The Deurganck Dock is seen at the bottom left side. Other details include the Kieldrecht Lock connecting the Deurganck Dock to the Left Bank (partially visible at the extreme bottom left side). The Doel Nuclear Power Station is also seen at the middle left side of the photo.