Antwerp and Ghent announce measures as water levels drop

Antwerp, Ghent and some Dutch ports have introduced operational measures as prolonged drought continues to lower water levels and increase salinity in key waterways.

IMAGE: Huge container ship being unloaded with cranes at a container terminal in Antwerp, Belgium. Getty Images

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges authority said water levels in Antwerp’s docks have been falling by several centimetres a day due to low rainfall and reduced inflows from the River Meuse.

To reduce water losses, the port is grouping vessels together for lock passages and operating the locks more efficiently to limit the amount of saltwater entering the docks from the River Scheldt.

The port authority said it could activate pumps to transfer water from the Scheldt into the docks if water levels continue to fall.  

The Antwerp-Bruges port authority said this remains a last resort because the river's higher salinity would increase salt concentrations in the dock water. Similar pumps were used during the 2022 drought.

The Zeebrugge port remains relatively unaffected as it has not experienced any major problems with its water supply, the port authority added.

Meanwhile, North Sea Port Authority, that controls the Belgian port of Ghent and Dutch ports of Vlissingen and Terneuzen, said drought conditions have further reduced water levels in the Ghent-Terneuzen Canal while salinity has risen well above target levels, prompting additional navigation restrictions.

Water levels in the canal are around 15 centimetres below the target level, while salinity has increased to 8,000-8,500 mg/l, compared with a target of 3,000 mg/l, according to the port authority.

Until further notice, vessels using the canal are subject to a maximum draft limit of 12.35 metres, the North Sea port authority said.

Lock operations at Terneuzen have also been restricted, with the New Lock and West Lock closed for four hours before and after low water, while the East Lock is closed for two hours before and after low water.

Bunkering demand has gone down in the last few weeks in Antwerp, a trader told ENGINE.

By Nachiket Tekawade

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