annual report 2009

A PORT WITH GENERAL SUPPORT

A SUSTAINABLE PORT

AN EFFICIENT PORT

A VITAL PORTAnnual Report2009

ContentsForeword 5About this report 7Antwerp Port Authority 8The 2009-2013 Business Plan 10Total Plan for a competitive port 12Freight volumes in 2009 14

A Vital PortMarket segments 22

Antwerp, the port for breakbulk 23Containers 25Liquid bulk 27Logistics sector 27

Market positioning 28Foreland and hinterland 29

Port dues and concession fees, Total Plan, Rail Café 31Multi-modalism 32

Master plan for rail and barge 32Permanent measurement network 36

Branding 37“The Original” campaign 37

Tankbank, Best Dry Bulk Port Award, Trade missions 38Media and publications, information process and lock renovation 39

Added value 40Impact of the port of Antwerp 40

APEC and APC 42

An Efficient PortInfrastructure and services 46

Antwerp Port Authority infrastructure work 46Zandvliet lock, Van Cauwelaert lock, second lock, new Port House 47

Expanded services 48Mobile cranes 48

Operations – chain approach 49Shipping traffic management 49

Nautical access, Permanent Commission 50ACC, invitation to tender for piloting, investment in pilot boat 51AIS 52

Innovation 53APICS2 53

Renovation award 54Land management 55

New concession policy 55Invitations for concessions, One-Stop-Shopping 56

Security 57Radars and cameras 57

Border inspection post 58Safety award 59


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A sustainable portEnvironment and nature 62Energy and climate control 63

Wind Plan for left bank 63Solar energy, waste heat and energy clustering, hydro-energy 65

Air quality management 66Shore power for seagoing ships 66

Particulates and NO2 Action Plan 67Water bottom and sediment management 69

Amoras 69Nature conservation and use of space 71

Black headed gull breeding sites 72Kallo reedbed 72

Waste management 74Waste plan 2009-2012 74

Barge waste centres, GISTI Luithagen 75Financial sustainability 76Income statement 77

Operating income 78Operating charges 79Financial result, Extraordinary result 80

Balance Sheet 81Cashflow statement 83

A Port that enjoys general supportHR policy 86Commitment 86

New appraisal system 86Newsletter, training courses 87

Recruitment policy 88Employer branding 88

Job fairs, Award, Levanto, Top employer 89Welfare 90

Rejoining the world of work 90Commuter fund, Absenteeism policy, Diversity 91

Development of the organisation 92Organisational changes 92

Working differently, Staff regulations, Maximo 92Support among society 93Dialogue with society 93

WaterkAnt 2009 94MAS Port Pavilion, Art port, Sports events 95

Dialogue with the public 96Welcoming the MSC Beatrice 96

Exhibitions, brochures and leaflets 97Dialogue between port community and customers 98

Consultative Council 98Satisfaction survey, Scheldt left bank, Publications 98

Dialogue with national and international politics 99Open House 99

Discussion forums 101ESPO 101

FPA, ESPO, AIVP, Davos, Presentations 102Governing bodies 104Foreign representatives 106Colophon 107


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2009 Annual Report and SustainableEnterprise ReportAntwerp Port Authority

The 2009 Annual Report of Antwerp Port Authority looks back on a year with a dual economic nature. The worldwide recession and financial crisis had a very big impact on all sections of society. Ports are the hubs of the economy, and as such they are a perfect mirror of the markets. But the crisis also provides opportunities and encourages us to look even more critically at the past and at the future. On reading this annual report it will be clear to you that the port of Antwerp has taken this message to heart.

The Antwerp port community mounted a joint counter-offensive. Despite the recession the port community has continued to invest, while Antwerp has confirmed its position as a leading port, demon-strated it accessibility for the very largest container carriers and become the second-largest container port in Europe.

We have tackled the crisis itself with concrete measures, in consultation with all the stakeholders in the port. The Port Authority has not only supported its partners financially by among other things freez-ing or even lowering the port dues, but has above all played its role as a locomotive. With initiatives such as the “Total plan for a more competitive port” the entire port community has been brought together and the crisis has been countered with practical initiatives. Antwerp’s famous “community feeling” comes to the fore in difficult times such as these.

6

While the crisis is not yet over, the first figures for freight volume in 2010 are hopeful and the port of Antwerp is looking with confidence towards the future, confident of its strengths and conscious of what needs to be improved, but with great shared élan.

Never let a good crisis go to waste!

Marc Van Peel Eddy BruyninckxPort Alderman CEO, Antwerp Port AuthorityChairman, Antwerp Port Authority


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About this report

The 2009 Annual Report mirrors the Port Authority’s Business Plan. As such it is grouped into four sections that correspond to the four main values of the port of Antwerp: a port that is vital, efficient and sustainable, enjoying the support of the community.

Each section concentrates on one key project in detail, with other projects and achievements also being featured. In this way it brings you a complete picture of the varied activities of the Port Authority. People make the port!

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Antwerp Port Authority Antwerp Port Authority was

set up in 1997 by the City of Antwerp as an independent, municipally-owned company with its own powers of decision-making and personnel policy, able to enter collaboration agreements with other companies and govern-ment departments. It was given its present legal status as an inde-pendent municipal port authority by the Port Decree. This form of business organisation enables it to react quickly and appropriately to the rapid developments in ship-ping and the economy, at both national and international level.

Antwerp Port Authority has a board of directors with the City of Antwerp as the founding body, along with representatives of industry, the port companies, the left bank part of the port and the nature associations.

The core tasks of Antwerp Port Authority are to act as a landlord and to develop the port infra-structure. The Port Authority also carries out a whole series of op-erational tasks (tugging, dredging, electricity distribution network operation, etc.), as well as various marketing and commercial activi-ties, to increase the added value that the port generates for the city and the region in a sustainable way, to assure high-quality, unin-terrupted services and to provide well developed facilities. It aims to

continue carrying out these tasks in future in a cost-efficient way, without being blind to new devel-opments. The Port Authority also wishes to play a greater commer-cial and marketing role, in consul-tation with the private companies.

Suggestions are regularly made for wider collaboration, not only between Flemish ports but also internationally. The Port Authority’s position on this is clear: the mission statement lays down that we as a port authority aim to fully exploit the potential offered by the region. The Flemish ports as well as the neighbour-ing ports in the delta are faced with the same reality, including a number of shared problems such as customs, ICT, hinterland connections etc. In these areas Antwerp Port Authority aims for constructive collaboration, in a context of fairness and without this leading to an artificial, diri-giste division of the market.


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Board of Directors

Management Committee

CEOChairman, Management

Committee

Infrastructure & Environment

Manager

Service andOperational

Services

ShippingManagement

Infrastructure, Spatial

Planning and environment

Wetinfrastructure

Electricitydepartment

Shippingassistance

Police servicesdepartment

General accounting

Promotion andmarketing

Recruitmentand selection

Concessions and concession

fees

Inland policy

Energy policy

Purchasing policy(property and

building

Perfomance policy &

compensation strategy

Training

Internalcommunication

Social welfare

Organisationdevelopment

Businessdevelopment

Customerservice

Debtor,creditor &treasury

Port dues

Controlling

Dossieradministration

Logistics

IT

ITsystemmaintenancedepartment

Damage

Hazardousgoods

Port security

Moorings& dock

administration

Mooring &unmooring

Floating crane& shore cranedepartment

Dredgingdepartment

Towingdepartment

Maintenancedepartment

Tele- communication

Dryinfrastructure

Renovation &new construction

Spatial planning &environment

Environmentalpolicy

coordination

GeographicInformation

Systems

Drafting &studies office

Bridge &lock drive,

operation &maintenance

Harbour- master

Harbour- master’s

office

Chief Financial Officer

Financialdepartment

Personneldepartment

Property management department

MarketingPromotion and

CommercialRelations

Chief Commercial

Officer

Personnel manager

Property manager

Chief Operational

Officer

Policy and staff departments- Strategy and development- Policy development- Legal department- Internal workplace health

and safety department- Government assignments- Strategic and external

communication- Internal audits- Documentation centre- Secretariat

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Sustainable Growth

Dy

na

mic S

pirit

Bro

ad

Co

mm

itm

ent

Efficient Acting

The 2009 – 2013 Business Plan Antwerp Port Authority has

drawn up its 2009 – 2013 Business Plan as required by the Flemish Port Decree, setting forth the ob-jectives, ambitions and strategies for the next four years. The most pronounced ambition is clearly defined: to become the leading general cargo port in Europe.The busi-ness plan is split into a public part, with the strategy and the most important ac-tions, initiatives and projects, and a separate section describing the opera-tional objectives for internal use.With this plan the Port Authority seeks to work towards the future in a consistent, structured way. The business plan gives the di-rection and shows the way for all

sections of the Port Authority. In addition to external communica-tion, particular attention is paid to in-house communication. Briefing sessions are organised at which employees are not only given full

information but are also able to put forward

remarks and ask questions. This

is a plan not only for but also by the Port Authority.On the basis of the ambi-

tions and actions laid

down it also examines the Port

Authority’s mission statement. The world-

wide trends that determine the development and organisation of ports in the 21st century and the challenges facing the Port Authority are translated into the following adagio.


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To arrive at a vital, efficient, sustainable port that enjoys general support.

for EuropeContribute to a powerful, all-embracing

European transport network (as a lever for the general economy).

for FlandersTo act as a smart port that helps to position Flanders as a leading

European region.

for the region and the cityTo sustainably maximise

the added value generated.

for the marketTo offer high-quality, reliable, uninterrupted service and well-developed infrastructure, and to assume

responsibility for smooth, safe shipping traffic; to develop a relationship of trust.

for societyTo favour and promote sustainable port development

and environment-friendly freight transport to and from the hinterland.

for the Port Authority’s own organisationby means of improved internal management,

to widen our ambitions and to participate in shaping services outside the port area; to achieve this with the full support

and collaboration of our employees.

12

Total Plan for a competitive port

At the end of December 2009, a decision was taken by Port Authority CEO Eddy Bruyninckx and Alfaport Chairman Roger Roels to set up an action plan supported by the public and private sectors, aimed at strength-ening the position of the port of Antwerp. (Alfaport is the as-sociation representing private companies within the port.) The initiative was prompted by the economic crisis that also hit the maritime sector in 2009. The im-pact of the crisis convinced many players within the port that they had to contribute to an “out of the box” approach with support from the wider port community. The objective is to develop a number of new projects in the short term, and to speed up promising projects that are already under way.

The plan is based on 10 + 1 work groups. Six of these work groups are focusing on more commercially-oriented market segments: containers, breakbulk, dry bulk, industry + liquid bulk, logistics and intermodal connec-tions. Four other work groups are monitoring the preconditions for an efficiently operating port: customs and port ICT, maritime services and the chain approach, branding & promotion and finally infrastructure & mobility. The eleventh work group is looking at the question of dock labour, but this consultation is being carried out with the normal representa-tive bodies, while reporting back to the consultative council.

Alfaport chairman Roger Roels (left) and Antwerp Port Authority CEO Eddy Bruyninckx (right): the initiative-takers behind an action plan supported by the public and private sectors.


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It is of fundamental impor-tance for the plan to be supported by the wider port community: the expertise in the various work groups is contributed by both the public and the private sector, as well as by industry associa-tions and individual companies. In selecting projects the work groups focus in particular on those that will have a direct, substan-tial impact in the short term. For other projects the emphasis is on achieving long-term objectives through a practical plan of ac-tion. A great deal of attention is also paid to the structural foun-dations of the results obtained within existing institutions and work groups, so that the practical achievements can be monitored and adjustments made where necessary.

The results and the progress made will be presented to a General Assembly of the Antwerp port community in the course of June 2010.

14

Tonnes 2008 2009 Difference (%)

Containers 101,362,024 87,247,745 -13.9 %

Ro/ro (excl. containers) 4,427,143 3,203,223 -27.6 %

Conventional/breakbulk 16,938,327 10,449,980 -38.3 %

ToTal GENERal CaRGo 122,727,494 100,900,948 -17.8 %

Dry bulk 27,345,817 17,383,826 -36.4 %

Liquid bulk 39,316,234 39,521,655 +0.5 %

ToTal BUlK 66,662,051 56,905,481 -14.6 %

ToTal FREIGHT VolUME 189,389,545 157,806,429 -16.7 %

CoNTaINER VolUME (TEU) 8,663,736 7,309,639 -15.6 %

Freight volumes in 2009 The port of Antwerp handled

157,806,429 tonnes of freight in 2009, a drop of 16.7% in compari-son with the nearly 190 million tonnes achieved in the record year of 2008. Imports were down by 22.3% to 81,600,769 tonnes, while exports were down by 9.7% to 76,205,660 tonnes.

The downward trend that started in the last quarter of 2008 was due to the worldwide economic crisis and the result-ing decline in world trade, which became particularly sharp in the

first quarter of 2009. The trend bottomed out in the first quarter at a volume of 37.3 million tonnes; thereafter the volume stabilised at 40 million tonnes in the next two quarters and finally rose slightly to 41 million tonnes in Q4.

All freight categories except liquid bulk experienced a drop in volume.


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ContainersFrom the last quarter of

2008 onwards the container volume on all routes de-clined, with a particularly sharp fall in volumes on the North American and Far East routes. The shipping compa-nies responded with ration-alisation, cutting a large number of services between the Far East and Europe.

Remarkably, however, the port of Antwerp became the leader in the Hamburg- Le Havre range in terms of the load coefficient of the container ships, as deter-mined by the slot capacity offered and the volumes actually carried by the ships. Antwerp

Bremerhaven

Dunkirk

Hamburg

Le Havre

Rotterdam

Zeebrugge

0 5 10 15 20

LOAD COEFFICIENT OF CONTAINER SHIPS JANUARY–SEPTEMBER 2008

TEU handled January–September 2008 (million TEU)

ASC January–September 2008 (million TEU)

Antwerp

Bremerhaven

Dunkirk

Hamburg

Le Havre

Rotterdam

Zeebrugge

0 5 10 15 20

LOAD COEFFICIENT OF CONTAINER SHIPSJANUARY–SEPTEMBER 2009

TEU handled January–September 2009 (million TEU)

ASC January–September 2009 (million TEU)

ASC: Annual Slot CapacityThe load coefficient is the annual slot capacity available for bringing containers into the port by ship, divided by the actual number of containers.

16

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

FREIGHT VOLUME HANDLED BY THE PORT OF ANTWERP 2000–2009 (MILLION TONNES)

Exports

Imports

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

FREIGHT VOLUME HANDLED BY THE PORT OF ANTWERP 2000–2009: BREAKDOWN BY CATEGORY (MILLION TONNES)

Containers

Other conventional/breakbulk

Liquid bulk

Dry bulk

Ro/roIn 2009, 238,041 cars

were imported and 532,278 exported. This represents a contraction of 19.9% in the total car volume.

Conventional/breakbulkThe conventional/

breakbulk volumes were well down on those of 2008. Imports fell by 47.8% to 4,553,658 tonnes, while exports fell by 28.2% to 5,896,322 tonnes. There were particularly sharp declines in the volumes of steel products (down 44.7%) and wood cellulose and paper (down 48.1%). On the other hand the fruit volume bore up relatively well, falling by only 7.5%.


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Dry bulkThe dry bulk volume

also declined considerably in 2009.

The sharp drop in the amount of ore handled (down 64.7%) was due to blast furnaces in the South of the country being shut down.

The volume of coal was up by a large amount in 2008, due to among other things trading activities and stock-piling on the quays. These stocks were first drawn down in 2009, which in com-bination with lower demand resulted in a fall of 37.9% in the volume of coal handled. The fertiliser volume for its part was down by 20.8%.

The Bao Guo bulk carrier (300 m long and 50 m wide) called at Antwerp Bulk Terminal on 27 April with 163,106 tonnes of coal, the largest load ever for the port.

0

50,0

00

1 Rotterdam

2 Antwerp3 Hamburg

4 Amsterdam

5 Marseille

6 Le Havre

7 Algeciras

8 Bremen

9 Valencia

10 Genova

12 Dunkirk

13 Zeebrugge

14 Trieste

21 Zeeland Seaports

26 Ghent

100,

000

150,

000

200,

000

250,

000

300,

000

350,

000

400,

000

THE PORT OF ANTWERP: N° 2 IN EUROPE (TOTAL FREIGHT VOLUME IN 2009, IN MILLION TONNES)

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Liquid bulkThe liquid bulk volume

experienced slight growth of 0.5%, thanks to an in-crease of 14.2% in exports. Transhipments of oil deriva-tives rose by 3.6%, while the volume of chemicals behaved relatively well, falling by only 3.2%.

NUMBER OF SHIPS CALLING AND AVERAGE GT

N°

OF

SEAG

OIN

G S

HIP

S

AVERAG

E GT

N° of calls by seagoing ships

Average Gross Tonnage

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

16,000

18,000

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

Number of shipsThe number of seago-

ing ships calling at the port of Antwerp in 2009 was 13,921, a decrease of 15.1% compared with 2008. On the other hand, the gross regis-ter tonnage rose by 5.9% to 19,127 GRT.


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0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

BARGE FREIGHT VOLUME 2000–2009 (MILLION TONNES)

Barge freight volume


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Market segMents

Policy vision

Antwerp is a multi-functional port, and aims to remain so in future. This variety offers all parties a wide range of additional services, thus generating cluster effects.

Apart from containers there is good growth potential for liquid bulk in particular. Now as before, Antwerp’s main advantage here is its world-renowned petrochemical cluster, the largest in Europe, developed in synergy with the logistics platforms. Antwerp’s other big ad-vantage is its leading position for conventional/breakbulk freight and the trend towards dry bulk with higher added value.


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Antwerp, the port for breakbulk Antwerp is the breakbulk port in

Europe, the leader that other ports seek to emulate. As a port, Antwerp aims to maintain and expand this leadership position in breakbulk and its general position as the second-largest port in Europe overall. Ac-cordingly the port made extra efforts in this sector in 2009. Together with Alfaport Antwerp it strives for a coordinated approach.

Round table discussions were held with players in the various breakbulk segments (ro/ro, forest products, steel, project cargo and general cargo). At these meetings the Port Authority and the private companies determined what they could expect of one another to facilitate existing trades and attract new ones. Each round table discus-sion closed with a Memorandum of Understanding with practical agreements covering a well-defined period.

Thanks to this coordinated ap-proach, the respective strengths of the Port Authority and the private companies can be applied to specific, well-defined areas.

On the basis of the round table discussions the first drafts for a series of five covenants were also drawn up, specifying the respective expectations and joint initiatives for the Port Authority and the private companies.

The targeted marketing initia-tives by the Antwerp breakbulk com-munity are supported by promotional and information material.

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Market segMents

Breakbulk ClubLast year the Port Authority and

Alfaport also set up the Breakbulk Club, where breakbulk profession-als meet every three months to take stock of the situation. In this way shared problems and joint opportuni-ties are quickly identified, enabling proactive measures to be taken.

Freight categories 2000

Freight categories 2009

On the right bank of the Scheldt an all-weather terminal was put into operation in April by Antwerp Stevedoring International. This terminal has an overhead travelling crane with a total span of 45 metres, together with six warehouses simi-larly equipped with overhead travel-ling cranes, enabling one seagoing ship and one barge to be loaded and unloaded simultaneously. The new 1.2 km covered rail track and the truck lane permit seamless multimo-dal transport connections to over-seas and hinterland destinations. Work has also started on construc-tion of a new decoiling centre.

containers 34 %

Dry bulk 21 %

other conventional/breakbulk 19 %

Liquid bulk 26 %

containers 55 %

Liquid bulk 25 %

Dry bulk 11 %

other conventional/breakbulk 9 %


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Belgian New Fruit Wharf (a subsidiary of Sea-invest) for its part put a fully-automated fruit terminal into operation on 16 September 2009. This 22,000 m² facility uses 100% “green electricity” produced by hydropower stations in France.

ContainersWith the arrival of the

world’s largest container carri-ers, the MSC Beatrice and the MSC Danit (each more than 14,000 TEU) in April, the port of Antwerp demonstrated that in these times of large-scale oper-ation it is able to play a crucial role on the worldwide ship-ping scene. At the same time Antwerp not only confirmed its position but also became the second-largest container port in Europe. Since the arrival of the MSC Beatrice the port has welcomed several dozen more Ultra Large Container Ships (ULCSs).

The all-weather terminal, a top-class facility with added value services.

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

16,000

LARGEST CONTAINER SHIPS (TEU)19

88

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

CAP

ACIT

Y IN

TEU

Thanks to its improved accessibility, even the very largest ships are able to reach the port of Antwerp efficiently and safely.(Based on OSC North European container port markets to 2020Representative Vessel Dimensions of Largest Container Ships)

Antwerp, the second-largest container port in Europe.

26

Market segMents

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

Rotterdam

Bremen

Antwerp

Le Havre

Hamburg

Zeebrugge

MARKET SHARES OF PORTS IN THE RANGE(HAMBURG–LE HAVRE) BY CONTAINER VOLUME (IN TONNES)

Rotterdam

Bremen

Antwerp

Le Havre

Hamburg

Zeebrugge

MARKET SHARES OF PORTS IN THE RANGE(HAMBURG–LE HAVRE) BY CONTAINER VOLUME (IN TEU)

0

500

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

3,000,000

Q1 ’08 Q2 ’08 Q3 ’08 Q4 ’08 Q1 ’09 Q2 ’09 Q3 ’09 Q4 ’09

The very largest container carriers are now seen regularly in Antwerp.


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Liquid bulkThis sector confirmed its

leading position, despite the crisis. In fact various large projects were completed and further investments were made in improvements and innova-tion in 2009.

ExxonMobil invested in con-struction of an energy-efficient cogeneration unit with a capac-ity of 125 megawatts. Evonik Degussa for its part expanded its methionine and feedstock capacity in 2009. It also set up a new production plant for isobutene, and began construc-tion of a second cogeneration unit. BASF Antwerp

with a capacity of 10,000 m³ into operation. Finally, the new ITC Rubis tank terminal has a capacity of 100,000 m³.

Logistics sectorIn 2009 Sea-Invest built the

Eurohub Distribution Center in the 6th Haven dock for the Imerys group, while Kuehne + Nagel set up the Waasland Cargo Center, a logistics plat-form of 14,000 m². In addition to general storage facilities these offer their customers a full range of value added activities.

Ineos Oxide made creative use of land that it is not able to employ directly for its own chemical activities: it went in search of companies that provide support services for the chemical sector and that need to expand. Among those to take advantage of this offer were Talke, with 30,000 m² of class 1 warehouses, and the Van Moer group, with 168,800 m² of transport and storage facilities.

Antwerp’s logistics centre: a wide and varied range of services with many added value activities.

Antwerp’s chemical cluster is the largest in Europe and the most diverse in the world: innovative and with a long-term vision.

meanwhile formed a joint venture for construction of a new multimodal terminal on its own site. Together with Dow Chemical, BASF developed the innovative HPPO technology, leading to advantages of scale, less effluent and lower energy consumption.

Antwerp is already known for its extensive, state-of-the-art tank storage, and in 2009 it further expanded this tank storage capacity. Noord Natie Terminals added another 17,800 m³ of capacity, while Oiltanking Stolthaven Antwerp made 400,000 m³ of new capac-ity available. LBC Tank Termi-nals put a new tank terminal

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Market positioning

Policy vision

The port of Antwerp is a mainport (the N° 2 in Europe), with excellent sea access, multi-purpose capabilities offering a wide range of services in continuous operation (24/7), the car-go generating capacity of its hinterland and of industry within the port, modern infrastructure with capacity available for container handling, a unique pipeline network and the highest con-centration of logistics and distribution facilities, high productivity of dock labour, multimodal connections, a varied range of logistics services and associated added value, and care for the environment and sustainable development.

The port is a crucial link in the logistics chain, acting as a gateway for incoming and outgoing goods traffic. Based on this gateway position it is of primordial importance to offer extended gateways, both in the foreland and in the hinterland, so as to bind freight flows to the port and so maintain its competitive advantage.


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Between foreland and hinterland

By means of a well-founded fore-land and hinterland policy the Port Authority aims to reinforce its role as a hub in the extended gateway concept.

In 2009 the “Hinterland” project team worked further on implement-ing the Port Authority’s hinterland strategy. This implementation resul-ted in a “concentric shell model,” with the port’s hinterland divided into three shells, each having the necessary initiatives and objectives assigned to it. A concrete strategy will be drawn up for each terminal within these different shells.

As part of the foreland policy the Port Authority’s consultancy subsidi-ary APC set up close connections with the government of Oman in 2009, for the purpose of developing a new port in Duqm. The aim is to leverage this expertise so as to de-velop further forms of collaboration with other growth regions around the world.

Antwerp-Limburg Extended Gateway collaboration agreementWith this agreement the Port

Authority and the province of Limburg aim to create a favourable investment climate, bring their infra-structure and transport possibilities into line with the logistics sector, support accelerated development of operating sites for companies and transfer know-how between sea-ports and inland terminals. Efforts last year concentrated on the Grobbendonk inland terminal.

Joint invitation to submit expressions of interestWith this joint invitation for

companies to submit expressions of interest in a site of around 26 hec-tares in Genk-South, located on the Albert canal, the port authorities of Antwerp and Genk aim to create space for non-maritime, port-related activities, increase the share of wa-ter and rail transport in the modal split, and give the port of Antwerp greater clout in the logistics chain.

H.E. the ambassador of Oman visits Port Authority CEO Eddy Bruyninckx.

The Albert canal connects Antwerp to its natural partners in the hinterland.

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Market positioning

Liège TrilogiportAntwerp Port Authority in col-

laboration with Liège Port Authority (PAL) has set up an Economic Interest Group (a form of business organisation under EU law) with the aim of taking sites in and around the port of Liège, making them ripe for

development and actively attracting investors. Liège and Antwerp are natural partners, connected to one another by the Albert canal. Further efforts were put into developing the relationship of collaboration during last year.

The extensive rail network within the port is being continually expanded.


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Port dues and concession feesIn 2009 the Port Authority

decided to take a number of measures to counter the eco-nomic recession. Some of these measures were able to produce an immediate effect, through changes to the Port Authority’s own tariff policy. In the mid-dle of 2009 the concession fees were lowered by 1.75%. As for the port dues it was decided to keep them at the same level in 2010, which in the majority of cases amounted to their being frozen at the 2008 level.

An additional tariff reduction of 10% was granted in order to promote breakbulk as of 2010, on condition that the employers and employees were to make efficiencies in the use of dock labour. The Port Authority also invited shipping operators and companies who were willing to make additional efforts or investments to take part in bilateral discussions.

With this intervention the Port Authority was able to support companies in a direct, efficient way in dealing with the crisis.

Total Plan for a more competitive portIn collaboration with Alfaport

Antwerp, the Port Authority has drawn up a Total Plan. Ten work groups have been set up, with membership made up of practical experts drawn from the public and private sectors. These work groups have been tasked with working out practi-cal solutions for the various market segments and the preconditions that have to be met. An eleventh work group deals with the current process of industrial relations consulta-tion for dock labour.

Rail CaféIn 2009, Alfaport Antwerp

and the Port Authority organ-ised two “Rail Cafés” at which port companies and logistics service providers were able to meet rail operators who are ac-tive within the port of Antwerp or have plans in this direction.

The first Rail Café was held on 29 April, at which the guest speaker was Luc Vansteenkiste, general manager of Infrabel, who focused on “Deregulation of the European rail market.” At the end of November it was the turn of Karel Vinck in his capacity as European Coordi-nator for the introduction of a European Rail Traffic Manage-ment System (ERTMS).

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Multi-ModalisM

Policy vision

The Port Authority wishes to further im-prove the accessibility of the hinterland by promoting the continued growth of intermodal transport to and from Antwerp. For this pur-pose, two Master Plans have been drawn up, one for barge transport and one for rail. These plans, which are necessary to assure accessibil-ity of the port in both directions, fit in with the Transport Master Plan for Antwerp drawn up by the government.

Master plan for rail and bargeThe Master Plan for Barge Trans-

port has as its objective to raise the barge share of the modal split to 43% by 2020. For this purpose the Port Authority is carrying out targeted initiatives in collaboration with all the players involved. Particular em-phasis is being placed on optimising the operational and barge-related processes. Together with the various barge transport players, the Port Authority is looking at possible measures for further developing Antwerp into an efficiently func-tioning port, by making logistical improvements in the port and its hinterland.

Work is also being done on a practical plan for setting up a con-solidation platform in the short term, for barges that call at a terminal with small numbers of containers.

A second important initiative for a long-term, structural approach is to optimise the handling of container barges.

Last year the Barge Traffic Sys-tem (BTS) registered 100,000 berth requests. The requests are regis-tered automatically, so that waiting times at the terminals are reduced to a minimum. In the meantime prepa-rations are being made for the re-lease of an updated BTS in 2010.

On the infrastructure side, the Flemish Community started work on raising the height of the bridges over the Albert canal, and also widening them where necessary. This will en-able barges with containers stacked four high to pass under the bridges in future. Renovation work also started on the Van Cauwelaert lock, and this will be followed later by the Royers lock.


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With its Master Plan for Rail Transport the Port Authority aims to reinforce its position as the second-largest rail port in Europe and raise the share of rail transport in the modal split from 10% in 2009 to 15% in 2020 for container transport, and from 12% in 2009 to 20% in 2020 for all freight categories combined.

The Port Authority wishes to make maximum use of the 1,050 km of rail track within the port, and to extend the existing facilities and make them more accessible for present or future rail operators.

At the same time the Port Authority acting in collaboration with the competent government de-partment and Infrabel (track opera-tor) is taking measures for a larger proportion of incoming and outgoing freight to be carried by this environ-ment-friendly transport mode, so that the port can play its role as an extended gateway to the full. Par-ticular attention is also being paid to consolidating loads and setting up new rail connections to parts of the hinterland that are served poorly or

43% of modal split for barge transport within the port by 2020.

The Liefkenshoek rail tunnel will bring time savings and greater efficiency.

not at all by rail. This AIS (Antwerp Intermodal Solutions) II project fo-cuses primarily on container freight flows, because these yield the wid-est customer base for a single train.

Infrastructure developments:— Liefkenshoek rail tunnel. Construc-

tion work started in 2008 and is now in full progress. Two tunnel-ling machines (“moles”) for exca-vating the two rail tunnels under-neath the Scheldt were delivered in 2009 and assembled in situ. Each of the moles is 102 metres long. The work of excavating the two tunnels started respectively in February and March 2010.

34

Multi-ModalisM

— Capacity upgrading of line 27a. The new Schijn and Krijgsbaan branch lines will contribute considerable additional capacity, amounting to 30%. Important steps in the preliminary adminis-trative procedures were taken in 2009 for construction of a split-level crossing at the site of the Schijn/Oude Landen branch. Con-struction work is due to start in 2011, and the new branches are expected to enter operation in mid-2014. The new infrastructure will also be compatible with the second rail access that is planned for the port.

— Additional rail capacity in the Waasland port. In October 2009 Infrabel put 10 additional lines into operation on the South rail fan, from where rail connections in the Waasland port (i.e. the port area on the left bank) are served. This fan now has 32 tracks, 10 of them fully electrified and another 10 partially. It is planned to lay another 10 tracks and extend the main N° 10 line past the fan by 2012.

Already the second-largest rail port in Europe, Antwerp aims to raise rail’s share of the modal split to 20% by 2020.


A SUSTAINABLE PORT

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35

Belgium

The Netherlands

Belgium

the Netherlands

Bifurcation Schijn

Antwerp-North

DEUR

GANC

KDOC

K

Bifurcation Krijgsbaan

Liefkenshoek Railway Tunnel

France

the Netherlands

France

Germany

Present anD Future inFrastructure investments

raiL inFrastructure DeveLoPments

1 Improved sea access for the Scheldt, with widening of the navigation windows (2009) and work in progress on deepening the river

2 Second lock in the Waasland port (in progress)

3 Saeftinghe Development Area (port expansion)

4 Improved rail connections between right and left banks (in progress)

5 Closing the ring road around Antwerp

6 Raising the capacity for barge transport (in progress)

Liefkenshoek rail tunnel. 16.2 km of new dual-track rail connection with a 6 km tunnel underneath the Scheldt. Due to be opened in 2014. Expansion of the capacity by 35%.

Line 27 a. Schijn branch. Krijgsbaan branch. Expansion of the capacity by 30%.

36

2009

raiL, barge anD roaD transPort 1999 – 2009

1999

Multi-ModalisM

Organisation of a permanent measuring network in the portAntwerp Port Authority aims

to set up a permanent network of measurement points for monitoring traffic within the

port, in order to analyse the flow of traffic to and from the port. The data gathered could be used to calibrate traffic models and to draw up origin and destination matrices on a permanent basis. The data can eventually be utilised to e.g. introduce a dynamic system of transport and mobility manage-ment. This project was further developed in 2009, and moves were made for collaboration with the Flemish traffic centre.

rail 9.3 %

barge 22.5 %

road 68.2 %

rail 10 %

barge 34.8 %

road 55.2 %


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AN EFFICIENT PORT

37

Policy vision

By means of a targeted promotion policy Antwerp Port Authority aims to position the port more strongly on the world market, so as to raise its general name recognition.

Branding

The Original in breakbulk One of the most important mar-

keting projects during the past year was “The breakbulk port of Europe.” As previously mentioned, the Port Authority aims to maintain and re-inforce Antwerp’s traditional strong position in breakbulk. In recent years it has become clear that ever more competitor ports are making extra ef-forts to acquire a share of the break-bulk market.

To counter this, a promotion unit was set up in 2008 within the MPC (Marketing, Promotion & Commercial relations) department to concen-trate on breakbulk and conventional freight. A comprehensive breakbulk marketing plan has been drawn up, with a clear vision and mission. This marketing plan was further devel-oped in 2009, with various initiatives being carried out:— a “new look” advertising

campaign that puts Antwerp squarely in the foreground as a breakbulk port

— new brochures concentrating specifically on breakbulk

— various gadgets drawing atten-tion to breakbulk activities

— launch of the quality logo “The Breakbulk Port of Europe,” with

among other things breakbulk advertisements, buttons and giveaways

— development of an “Original” label.

Fourth Breakbulk Europe Conference & ExhibitionFor the fourth year in a row

Antwerp was the host city for the Breakbulk Europe Conference & Exhibition, with the Port Authority acting as the main sponsor. 3000 participants from the international breakbulk and logistics world took part in the conference. The more than 100 available stands were fully occupied, with clear demand for additional space in 2010.

Breakbulk Europe Conference and Exhibition, 2009.

38

TankBankAntwerp was selected as the

venue for the first Annual Oil and Chemical Logistics Net-working event. At this three-day event with seminar-style presentations and a highly entertaining social programme, participants were able to meet customers, suppliers and serv-ice providers in a very effective way in a short space of time. In view of the great success the event will be held again in 2010.

Branding

Best Dry Bulk Port AwardThe port of Antwerp was

singled out by the International Bulk Journal as the “Best dry bulk port,” ahead of Rotterdam, Hamburg, Amsterdam and Brunsbüttel. The nominated ports were judged on among other things their efforts to handle bulk goods in an ef-ficient, safe and environment-friendly way, as well as the quality of their logistical post-handling, their environment-friendliness, their investments in port infrastructure and their management approach to gen-erating local and international business. Antwerp received the highest marks in all these aspects.

Missions, trade fairs and port daysThe Port Authority organised

two missions to India and one to China (in collaboration with POM Antwerp). The China trip formed part of the “Im-pact on China” programme developed by the Port Authority with the aim of among other things winning greater market share for Antwerp in the large flow of trade from China to Europe. The Port Authority was also present at other trade fairs including CTL Imex (Bombay), Breakbulk Asia (Singapore), Logistics Forum (Duisburg), Transrussia (Moscow), Inter-modal (Sao Paulo), Transport Logistics (Munich), Breakbulk Europe (Antwerp), Steel Logistics (Rotterdam), PPI (Liverpool), Breakbulk (New Orleans), Transport & Logistics (Antwerp) and SITL (Dubai).

Together with the private port companies the port of Antwerp was presented at Port Days in Valenciennes, Düsseldorf & Dortmund, Prague, Budapest and Vienna.

CCO Luc Arnouts (middle) accepted the “Best Dry Bulk Port” award, recognition of Antwerp as “The original breakbulk port.”


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AN EFFICIENT PORT

39

RADAR and televisionIn addition to the quarterly

publication of the commer-cial magazine “Antwerp Port News” there was felt to be a need for a faster, broader news medium. Accordingly the monthly Radar newsletter was launched in summer 2009. This e-newsletter offers both commercial and economic news, as well as paying atten-tion to sustainable develop-ment and general support for the port among the local popu-lation. Published in Dutch and English, it is made available to all those who are interested. Finally, there are regular reports of events and develop-ments in the port under the title of “Antwerp Port TV,” broadcast in collaboration with Lloyd-TV.

LeafletsThe number of brochures

and leaflets was considerably expanded in 2009. In addition to a general brochure about Antwerp as a multi-purpose port, a whole series of com-mercial brochures and leaflets was presented, dealing with particular categories of freight and work organisation within the port.

Renovation of the Van Cauwelaert lock: special efforts were made to keep users informed.

Information channel for lock renova-tion workThe renovation of a number

of important locks such as the Zandvliet lock (completed in 2009) and the Van Cauwelaert lock (started in 2009) made it necessary to provide a reliable source of information for cus-tomers. All the parties involved were given full information at a meeting, with explanations of the work to be done, the timing and the temporary arrange-ments. During the renovation progress they were given regular updates, so that the inconvenience for port traffic could be kept to the minimum.

The international information campaign was mounted through APN, newsletters and the press.

40

Policy vision

The port of Antwerp offers great added value for Flanders and Belgium. Antwerp Port Authority considers its responsibility as being to maximise this added value in a sustainable way.

added value

A port with impact Each year the National Bank of

Belgium presents its report on the economic importance of the Belgian seaports, based on added value, employment and investment.

A distinction is made between direct and indirect effects. Direct effects are the consequence of eco-nomic activities which are directly related to the port, either because of their nature (e.g. ship’s agents, freight handling etc.) or because of their location (e.g. the petrochemical industry). In addition to these direct effects an important role is also played by indirect effects which arise from derived activities (e.g. added value and employment in the financial sector).

According to the most recent figures (for 2007, published in 2009), the total added value generated by the maritime-industrial complex was 9.9 billion euros, about as much as the Flemish government’s budget for education. When the supply companies are also taken into ac-count, the added value works out at 20.5 billion euros (up 6.5% on 2006). The added value corresponds to

10.6% of the GDP of Flanders and 6.1% of the GDP of Belgium.

Activities in the port of Antwerp generate employment throughout Flanders, but the social and eco-nomic impact is particularly great in the immediate area of the port. In the municipalities around Antwerp, 12.8% on average of the working population is employed directly or in-directly by the port. Not only is there a very wide variety of jobs, but there is also an enormous amount of em-ployment opportunity. Some 65,000 people work within the port itself. Slightly less than half of them are involved in shipping-related activi-ties, such as the thousands of dock-ers who load and unload freight for private companies in the port. Other maritime jobs are found among ship’s agents, shipping operators, port developers and dredgers.


A SUSTAINABLE PORT

AN EFFICIENT PORT

41

Nearly six out of ten people work in manufacturing (the majority of them in the chemical industry), commerce, transport and other lo-gistical services within the port. Port activities also generate another 118,000 jobs elsewhere in Flanders.

In total the port of Antwerp is re-sponsible for more than 180,000 jobs, representing 8.2% of all working Flemings.

Direct investment rose in 2007 by nearly 27%, to 3.2 billion euros.

economic imPortance oF the Port oF antWerP

aDDeD vaLue (in miLLion euros)

emPLoYment (in Fte)

investment (in miLLion euros)

Direct inDirect Direct inDirect Direct

maritime non-maritime maritime non-maritime maritime non-maritime maritime non-maritime maritime non-maritime

2002 1,681 5,459 2,655 4,550 22,621 39,724 33,739 53,687 462 1,010

2003 1,943 5,481 2,388 4,337 23,004 38,337 27,305 53,578 785 1,080

2004 2,411 5,935 2,500 5,578 24,074 37,277 26,357 67,027 1,521 1,106

2005 2,938 6,505 2,863 6,414 24,881 38,214 30,750 77,047 2,834 1,080

2006 2,820 6,356 2,990 7,081 26,080 38,038 30,391 80,648 1,436 1,099

2007 3,183 6,702 3,360 7,242 26,325 38,545 33,227 85,008 1,918 1,298

Source: National Bank of Belgium (2009)

More than 8.2% of the employed population of Flanders works in the port of Antwerp.

42

Worldwide added valueThe Port Authority also cre-

ates added value elsewhere in the world through APEC-Antwerp/Flanders Port Train-ing Centre and through its subsidiary Antwerp Port Consultancy.

APEC-Antwerpen/Flanders Port Training Center organises short, practical, interactive

seminars for foreign trainees. This knowledge centre has developed into a respected institution among maritime circles around the world. Numerous people from the maritime sector in other coun-tries call on Antwerp’s know-how in modern port activities.

Antwerp Port Consultancy markets the Port Authority’s expertise and know-how in the form of consultancy projects abroad. 2009 was a tipping point for this subsidiary, when

it started to prepare a pack-age of services that includes not only consultancy but also active investment and involve-ment in developing other ports.

Percentage share in Direct aDDeD vaLue oF beLgian Ports (17.2 biLLion euros)

Source: National Bank of Belgium

brussels 4.2 %

Zeebrugge 5.2 %

ostend 2.6 %

ghent 22.4 %

Liège 8.1 % outside the ports 0.5 %

antwerp 57.1 %

added value


A SUSTAINABLE PORT

AN EFFICIENT PORT

43

APEC-Antwerp/Flanders Port Training has gained a strong reputation, with enthusiastic alumni all over the world.


A SUSTAINABLE PORT

AN EFFICIENT PORT

46

Infrastructure and servIces

Policy vision

The Port Authority aims to offer world-beating services in the port of Antwerp. This demands continuous investment to improve the operational efficiency and to raise the level of nautical and technical service.

Infrastructure Leading infrastructure for a world-class port As a landlord, Antwerp Port

Authority is responsible for the quality of the infrastructure made avail-able. In this capacity it is currently building a new quay wall in Canal dock B2, among other things. A new quay wall 860 m long is being built on the waterfront, which will eventually of-fer berthing capacity for two seagoing ships or five barges. The quay wall is located beside the concessions held by Oiltanking Stolthaven Antwerpen and Evonik Degussa Antwerpen, which have made an agreement for the use of this berthing facility. Oiltanking is investing in a superstructure with five loading and unloading systems, along with the pipe racks and all the safety and operational equipment necessary for expanding its tank farms. Phase 1 is due for completion in January 2010, while the entire project should be fully completed by mid-2011.

Thanks to investments such as these, along with the collaboration between the Port Authority and the private sector, the port of Antwerp will be able to offer sufficient berths and remain congestion-free in future.

Construction of the quay wall for Canal dock B2. The Port Authority invests in ultra-modern infrastructure on an ongoing basis.


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47

Zandvliet lockIn 2009 the Flemish Region

replaced the bottom rails for the Zandvliet lock gates. The work was carried out using the caisson technique, so that hindrance to shipping traffic was kept to a minimum. The project was com-pleted towards the end of 2009, just in time to start repair work on the Van Cauwelaert lock.

Van Cauwelaert lockRenovation work on the Van

Cauwelaert lock started in 2009, with four new doors, modifica-tions to the door recesses, fitting of new bottom rails and bogies, and new lock chamber walls. This work will take until the beginning of 2011.

The renovation of the Van Cauwelaert lock is one of the projects in the Antwerp Mobility Master Plan, as is the renova-tion of the Kattendijk and Royers locks. The aim is to provide safe,

efficient connections for the in-creasing numbers of barges trav-elling between the Scheldt, the inner terminals in the Antwerp port area and the Albert canal.

Second lock for the Waasland portIn the Waasland port (i.e. the

port area on the left bank) pre-paratory work is being done for one of the largest infrastructure projects of recent years, namely the second lock. In September 2009 the Flemish Department of Transport & Public Works applied for planning permission to build the lock, and for an environmen-tal permit to build and operate it.

Together with the Flemish Transport & Public Works depart-ment the Port Authority has set up a website presenting the project as a whole and enabling its progress to be followed (http://tweedesluiswaasland-haven.be). The lock is due to be operational by 2014.

New Port HouseOn 13 January 2009 the board

of directors decided to have the new headquarters planned for the Port Authority designed by the leading international architect Zaha Hadid. The new Port House will occupy the site of the techni-cal services building on quay 63. The new building will not only provide a solution for the press-ing lack of space in the current premises at the Entrepot quay, but will also allow the adminis-trative and technical departments to be centralised, thus permitting greater efficiency of operation. By having an architecturally dis-tinguished Port House, the Port Authority will also contribute to further development and upgrad-ing of the part of the city known as the Eilandje. The new building is intended to symbolise the Port of Antwerp as a world port and as the economic driver of Flan-ders and the Antwerp area.

The Open Call for Tender pro-cedure laid down by the Flemish Government Architect was fol-lowed in selecting the designer.

Renovation of the Zandvliet lock. Modern techniques and efficient planning ensure minimum hindrance to shipping traffic.

A model of the new Port House, destined to be a landmark building that forms a link between city and port.

48

Infrastructure and servIces

Services At the service of the customer The Port Authority is investing in

new tugs, a pusher barge and three hopper barges.

Four of the 19 tugs that are still op-erational are now due for replacement. Several years ago the Port Authority decided to invest in three new tugs with a pulling capacity of 55 tonnes. These tugs, representing an invest-ment of 22.83 million euros, arrived for further finishing in the port of Antwerp in the course of 2009.

To modernise its dredging fleet the Port Authority decided to build three new hopper barges, each with a capacity of some 2,750 m³, along

with a multipurpose pusher barge that can also be used as a work barge and sweeper. Total cost: 21.04 million euros.

Three new tugs, for even better service.

Mobile cranes: multi-capable.

New mobile cranesLast year the Port Authority

purchased two powerful mobile cranes to meet the increasing demand for cranes able to shift more and heavier loads. The cranes will be used not only to shift general cargo but also to do gripper and spreader work. The new cranes have a maximum lift capacity of 120 tonnes within a reach of 18 m. The maximum reach is 51 m with a load of 36 tonnes. The cranes can be connected in situ to the 3 kV quayside power supply, resulting in lower emissions of CO² and particulates. This gives the Port Authority a total of 17 mobile dock cranes.


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49

Pilots on board a ship. The importance of an efficient chain approach.

Policy vision

The “chain principle” refers to managing the entire chain of shipping movements as an inte-grated whole, from end to end. The Port Authority aims to organise the chain so as to make maximum use of all the navigation facilities, while develop-ing a long-term vision for nautical accessibility. An integrated chain approach is a key concept here, as it not only permits ships to reach the port smoothly and easily, but also enables them to be served efficiently within the port.

OperatIOns – chaIn apprOach

Shipping traffic managementwith visionAntwerp Port Authority aims to

play a central role in implementing the chain approach, within the frame-work of the treaties that have been signed with the Netherlands. Such an approach is of vital importance in maintaining and reinforcing the port’s competitive position.

The ultimate goal is to ensure a smooth, safe flow of shipping traffic to and from the port. To achieve this, the Port Authority has decided to modify its own internal organisation. The “Chain approach think tank” was set up in June 2009 with the task of map-ping out this reform. The think tank is made up of members of personnel who occupy key positions within the nauti-cal chain, along with colleagues from the support services. The work group meets at regular intervals, and in au-tumn 2009 the first steps were taken towards setting up the activities that the future “Shipping traffic manage-ment” department will deal with.

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Nautical accessibility2009 will go down in the mari-

time history of Antwerp as the year in which the long-awaited third round of deepening the Western Scheldt was held up by a number of procedural meas-ures in the Netherlands. The Dutch government thwarted the dredging work with its “twin track decision” of 17 April 2009, going back on the agreements that had previously been made and abandoning the programme that had been drawn up jointly. The Dutch cabinet demanded ad-ditional studies to be carried out and alternatives to be examined so as to avoid “depoldering” the Hedwige polder (a polder is an area of reclaimed land: depolder-ing means allowing it to revert to flooding). This twin-track deci-sion had a knock-on effect on the decision by the Dutch Council of State to suspend the permits for the project, based on objections under the terms of the Nature Conservation Act. Antwerp Port Authority and the Flemish government reacted by demand-ing full and immediate compli-ance with the treaties. Minister-

president Kris Peeters summoned the Dutch ambassador and held a whole series of talks with the Dutch authorities. The Flemish minister of Transport & Public Works, Hilde Crevits, took similar measures with her Dutch coun-terpart. On 9 October agreement was reached and the Dutch government honoured the terms of the treaty. In December the Council of State for its part finally issued a judgement in favour of the deepening work. Dredging work in the Western Scheldt

was actually able to start at the beginning of 2010. The deepen-ing of the navigation channel will enable the very largest container carriers of 14,000 TEU to reach Antwerp smoothly and safely, with tide-independent keelroom of 13.1 metres.

Permanent CommissionIn the course of 2009 a number

of test trips were carried out by container carriers with an LOA of more than 360 metres. The Permanent Commission for Supervision of Scheldt Navigation gave its permission for this based on the positive evaluation of an initial test trip by the MSC Beatrice on 7 April. After a com-prehensive evaluation process, the permitted navigation win-dows were definitively widened and the maximum draught for certain types of ship was in-creased by the Permanent Commission.

In the new upstream and downstream navigation regula-tions, the maximum draught for ships leaving the port with an LOA of more than 340 metres has been increased from 13 to 14 metres. Ships shorter than

Minister-president Kris Peeters and ambassador Hannie Pollmann-Zaal (now sadly deceased) after their discussion about deepening work being held up, on 13 August 2009.

Down-river Up-river Before the deepening After the deepening

TIDE-DEPENDENT(greater draughts and wider tide windows)

LOA < 340 m > 340 m

Before the deepening

Incoming 15.56 m 14 m

Outgoing 14.80 m* 14.80 m*

After the deepening

Incoming 15.56 m 15 m and above

Outgoing 15 m and above 15 m and above

* min. 60 minute tide window required

TIDE-INDEPENDENT

Before the deepening

11.90 m

After the deepening

13.10 m

15.00 m 11.90 m15.56 m 13.10 m

IMPROVED SEA ACCESS:


A SUSTAINABLE PORT

51

this are even permitted to leave Antwerp with a draught of up to 14.8 metres, subject to certain conditions. As a result, the navi-gation windows for the largest container carriers in the world have been extended. For sailing up-river the permitted draught remains 15.58 metres. In combi-nation with the deepening of the Western Scheldt this improves the nautical accessibility of the port of Antwerp.

Antwerp Coordination CentreOptimisation of the nauti-

cal chain is being promoted in several ways, in collaboration with the Flemish government. In addition to the structural and infrastructural initiatives it has been decided that all services in-volved in shipping traffic control should be brought together at the same physical location, sharing a single platform. The Harbour-master’s Office, the Shipping Traffic Control department and DAB Loodswezen (the Flemish Region’s pilotage service) will in future operate from a single loca-tion, the Antwerp Coordination Center (ACC).

The organisation of the serv-ices will be further examined by the various departments in-volved. The ACC will be located next to the Zandvliet lock.

The various services now share a common platform in the Antwerp Coordination Center.

The accessibility of the port of Antwerp has been improved by the removal of 12 “thresholds” in the Western Scheldt.

Invitation to tender for pilotageThe Port Authority has issued

an invitation to tender for piloting seagoing ships and for mooring and unmooring them in the port of Antwerp. The new concession-holders will be required to play an active role in the chain ap-proach, so as to ensure smooth, safe shipping traffic to and from the port of Antwerp. The contract will be awarded in 2011.

Investment in a pilot’s boatIn collaboration with Dexia,

Nautinvest and Brabo, the Port Authority has set up Wandelaar Invest as a limited company re-sponsible for financing four new boats for DAB Vloot (the Flemish Government’s pilotage fleet). Wandelaar Invest will make these vessels available to DAB Vloot without crews. The boats are expected for delivery in 2012.

52


Automatic Identification System (AIS). In September last year the Port

Authority decided to make the Automatic Identification System compulsory for barges as of 1 March 2011. The system auto-matically sends various data con-cerning the vessel to the onshore stations and vice-versa. AIS has been routine on seagoing ships for some time now.

The introduction of AIS for barges will permit better lock planning in future.

Good connections between the various services in the chain will ensure smooth, safe shipping traffic. The system will make it possible to monitor and proac-tively manage the flow of barge traffic. It will also permit more efficient lock planning, better utilisation of infrastructure and more efficient berth management. This will all lead to better service, both for seagoing and for inland waterway traffic, along with im-proved management of the entire chain. The system further makes it possible to monitor emissions by vessels, keep a closer watch on dangerous goods and many other things. The introduction of AIS forms part of the Master Plan for barge transport.


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53

InnOvatIOn

Policy vision

The Port Authority follows a strong innovation policy aimed at keeping the port’s competitiveness and image at a high level.

APICS2: from Cook to Vespucci The renewal of the port information

system is an excellent example of the Port Authority’s policy vision.

With the new APICS2 port informa-tion system, Antwerp Port Authority will move from passive recording and monitoring of shipping movements to an active system in which users will be able to optimise their planning and decision-making processes. Thanks to this software package the port will have a fully integrated application run-ning on an up-to-date platform for all of the port-related processes.

Antwerp Port Information and Con-trol System (APICS) has developed over the past 20 years into the main tool for traffic controllers, lock operators, dockmasters and quay supervisors, port captains and dangerous goods operators, ship’s agents and forward-ers, tugging and pilotage companies, shipping police and customs, port dues collectors and all logistics players in the supply chain.

A mission-critical software package such as APICS together with its huge database is of great strategic impor-tance and offers great added value in terms of efficiency, cost saving, ease of use and raising quality.

In the meantime, however, APICS has reached the stage where it needs a full update. The port of Antwerp is unique, with dock areas on both sides of the river, numerous locks, a tidal part of the port and tugging and pilotage services above and below the locks, and so a suitable off-the-shelf package is simply not available. Accordingly the Port Authority decided to develop its own software package in-house within a period of three years.

54

The application uses the most modern techniques to coordinate the planning processes of the various infrastructure facilities and service providers (bridges, locks, pilots, tug operators, boatmen, freight handlers, refuse collectors, bunkering companies etc.). The software will also include measurement tools to detect when and where bottlenecks are liable to occur within the overall chain. APICS2 will additionally have a replay function which can be used to reconstruct and analyse the operational situation at any given moment in the past. The system gathers cargo information from all ves-sels calling at the port, with danger-ous cargo declarations being grouped together in a safety file that is available at all times.

Screen shots of APICS2:an excellent example of home-grown innovation.

Renovation Award for quay in the 7th Haven dockAntwerp Port Authority also

inspires others to innovate and develop. The Van Laere general contracting company introduced an innovative construction tech-nique for renovating quay walls which was used for the first time in the port of Antwerp. For this technique it received the Reno-vation Award from the Building Confederation in 2010.

The first release, Cook, took place in 2009, and the other three releases (Drake, Da Gama and Vespucci) are planned over the next three years.

InnOvatIOn


A SUSTAINABLE PORT

55

Land management

Policy vision

One important priority for improving operational efficiency is raising the productivity per unit of area, so that more freight can be handled within a smaller space. As part of this effort, unused or unusable areas of land will be made ready for con-struction in the next few years. The Port Authority also plans to negotiate with large-scale industry about the strategic land reserves. In addition to managing land within the port the Port Authority focuses on expanding the real estate assets by carefully considered purchases.

Concession policy: clear and transparent Last year the Port Authority

brought its concession policy into line with the changed needs and require-ments, with the emphasis on achiev-ing greater operational efficiency and sustainability. As the landlord of the port area, the Port Authority is respon-sible for land policy, with concessions on sites being granted to private com-panies. The total area concerned is 37,673,000 m². In close collaboration with these port companies, a modern, adapted concession policy has been approved, with the emphasis on trans-parency and aiming at greater legal certainty for the concession-holders. The concepts of “change of control” and “use of space” were also included in the policy, in order to assure the con-tinuance of a balanced, open economic climate within the port area.

The new concession conditions have been approved not only by the Port Authority’s own board of directors but also by the board of the Left Bank Corporation, so that unity of manage-ment of concessions can be assured throughout the port area, now and in the future. The new concession condi-tions came into effect on 1 April 2009.

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Invitation to submit tenders for new sitesIn 2009 various invitation-to-

tender procedures were launched for available sites within the port area. These included Port Authority land which had become free, as well as sites recently pur-chased by the Port Authority.

Invitations were issued for: a site of approx. 1,312 m², for construction of a natural gas filling station; a site of approx. 207,769 m² without waterfront access; a site of approx. 5,810 m² without waterfront access; and another site of approx. 82,141 m² without waterfront access.

An “Energy plenary work group” was set up with the aim of introducing an energy partici-pation policy within the conces-sion policy. Membership of this multi-disciplinary consultation body has been extended to in-clude the Left Bank Corporation, so as to maintain unity of policy-making within the port area. The work group deals with wind tur-bines, solar power, hydropower, biomass, waste heat and energy clustering.

One-stop-shopping for port permitsIn consultation with the mu-

nicipal departments, the exist-ing “Municipal Port Desk” was converted into a “Single Desk” in accordance with the new Flemish regulations. This allows “one-stop-shopping” for companies applying for planning permission and/or environmental permits in the port area on the right bank. And by combining the applica-tions there now only has to be one joint public inquiry, which speeds up the processing. The Single Desk opened for business on 1 January 2010.

Participation in energy activities forms part of the new concession policy.

TYPES OF CONCESSION

Sites (GR.)

Border Inspection Post (LO)

Sites (LGR)

Quays (LAFD)

Various (D1, IVK, JAW, JKD, CRT + CHPAP)

Mobile snacks (SNACK)

Warehouses (VM)

Wind turbines

Petroleum facilities South (P)

Wooded ground (HGR)

Parking (D2)

Soup kitchen (GK)

Land management


A SUSTAINABLE PORT

57

securIty

Policy vision

A safe, secure port is a crucial condition to ensure smooth freight handling. The port of Antwerp has a good reputation in this area, and all shipping terminals are ISPS certified.

A secure port

The Port Authority strives to en-sure efficient shipping traffic control, for which it invests in ultra-modern technology. Six new radar stations have been put into operation on the right bank of the Scheldt. Each is also equipped with two wide-angle colour cameras and all other facilities neces-sary to ensure operation in all weath-ers. Thanks to this equipment the shipping traffic controllers are able to

have a picture of everything happening all along the Scheldt within the port.

It has also been decided to build three new radar towers with accompa-nying operator posts on the left bank, linked up to the existing radar system. The study work and the planning per-mission process were completed in 2009, and a decision on planning permission is expected in 2010.

L. to r.: Marc Van Peel, chairman of Antwerp Port Authority, Jacques D’Havé, general manager of the Agency for Maritime Services & Coast, and Koen De Winne (on behalf of the Flemish minister of Transport & Public Works, Hilde Crevits) inaugurate the new radar stations on the right bank.

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New border inspection post A new border inspection post

was put into operation near the Deurganck dock on the left bank on 23 November. Under this concept the Customs activi-ties (scanning and checking) are combined with those of the Food Agency, enabling containers to be checked more efficiently.

The new Border Inspection Post: combined inspections for

greater efficiency.

securIty


A SUSTAINABLE PORT

59

New radars and cameras permit greater safety within the port.

Security Award from the Na-tional Nuclear Security Admin-istration (US)In May the port was pre-

sented with the Safety Award at a ceremony in New York, in recognition of the fact that since 2007 intensive scanning for the presence of radioactive sub-stances is carried out at more than 40 points throughout the port. This nuclear detection forms part of the worldwide Megaports initiative, and is intended among other things to deter any trade in nuclear weapons.


A SUSTAINABLE PORT

62

Nature aNd the eNviroNmeNt

Policy Vision

Antwerp Port Authority fol-lows an environment policy vision as a guideline for working out action points in the field of nature and the environment. In doing so it seeks to deal in a proactive, responsible way with the envi-ronmental challenges facing it, and to assume its own responsi-bilities. The Port Authority also engages in dialogue with the port community, and aims to play a full role in setting an example. In this way the Port Authority contributes towards the general striving for a more sustainable society, with particular attention to employees and those living nearby. In addition to the envi-ronmental investments and ini-tiatives carried out or started in 2009, steps are also being taken to set up a knowledge centre for gathering all the information necessary to implement a coordi-nated nature and environmental policy.

The Paarden saltmarsh.


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Energy and climate control The Port Authority seeks to play a pioneering role in the field

of the climate and energy, by following a policy that encourages all parties involved to collaborate in working towards a lower carbon economy. It sets an example by making rational use of energy within its own administrative and operational depart-ments, applying the most energy-efficient technology and using renewable sources of energy.

A plan for wind The preparation of a Wind Plan on the

left bank in 2009 was a further step in the Port Authority’s energy policy in collabo-ration with the Left Bank Corporation. In their energy policy the Port Authority and the Left Bank Corporation aim to support the development of sustainable, decen-tralised electricity production as much as possible. One of the most efficient sustainable technologies is wind power. Provided the wind turbines are well sited, this technology also complements the basic maritime and industrial activities of the port.

In order to select the most appropriate sites the Port Authority and the Left Bank Corporation had a study carried out to

investigate the impact that construction of wind turbines would have on bird life (migration and breeding areas). To as-sure broad-based support the study was discussed with the various other stake-holders. The results of the study were presented to the Flemish government in 2010 as a general framework for planning permission policy.

The aim is to achieve the largest possible installed wind power capacity, independently of considerations of land ownership and production capacity.

Wind power complements the basic shipping and industrial activities of the port.

64


Wind turbines: analysis of siting on the left bank shows an extract from the study.

The areas in green are places where wind turbines are definitely possible from the point of view of bird life, while those in orange are where wind turbines are possible but their siting will depend on the results of a detailed inquiry as part of the planning permission procedure.

Wind turbines: map of siting potential on the left bank

The areas in red are closed to wind tur-bines. In excluding certain areas every effort has been made to comply with the objectives of maintaining the function of the left bank under the terms of the Birds Directive. Good buffering of the nature conservation areas and the bird migration routes is necessary to afford maximum opportunities for bird life to develop on the left bank.


65

Solar powerThe Port Authority has permitted

use of photovoltaic systems within the port area since 2009, subject to certain restrictions. Specifically, the generating capacity of the system must not be higher than the peak consumption of the concession in which it is located. This is in line with the new Flemish government decree of 8 May 2009 (published in the Staatsblad of 26.06.2009) amending the original decree concerning the way in which costs are passed on. The Port Authority considers that the present mecha-nism for sharing the costs is lacking in certain ways, as it does not take into account the differences in scale or the differences in the potential of particular areas (for example the Antwerp port area is relatively small, but it nevertheless has huge potential because of the large amount of warehouse roofs). This has direct price implications for port users on the right bank. Accord-ingly, the Property Management department has started talks with the office of the minister for Energy, Housing, Cities & Social Economy to mitigate the detrimental conse-quences for the port area.

Waste heat and energy clusteringFollowing consultation with

Voka/Antwerp-Waasland Chamber of Commerce, Essencia, Alfaport and other bodies, it was decided to draw up an inventory of waste heat sources and heat consumers in and around the port area. The Left Bank Corporation declared itself willing to help finance this inventory work.

The inventory project kicked off on 27 October 2009. In addition to the Port Authority and the Left Bank Corporation, the steering group also includes the federa-tions previously mentioned, the surrounding municipalities, the intermunicipal companies, FE-BEG, the Innovation Support of the Boerenbond (farmers’ association) and CoGen Flanders. Once the heat inventory has been carried out and a heat database has been compiled, a feasibility study for a collective waste heat initiative will be carried out.

HydropowerIn the field of hydropower it has

been decided to examine the pos-sible use of this technology within the port and to look more closely at the various options.

The port of Antwerp covers an area with huge potential for solar power, thanks to the large amount of warehouse roofs.

66

Air quality management


As the manager of the port area, Antwerp Port Authority plays an active role in improving the air quality. It aims to reduce the pressure on air quality without putting a brake on further develop-ment of the port, thanks to a carefully considered, effective ap-proach. The Port Authority maps emissions and determines their relationship to air quality, thus gathering useful data and building up a knowledge base. Strategic collaboration with other ports makes it possible to further expand the port’s own knowledge. All this information provides a basis for drawing up measures in consultation with the port community and other authorities.

Shore power for sea giants In 2009 minister-president Kris Peeters

officially inaugurated the first system for supplying onshore electricity to seago-ing ships at berth in the port of Antwerp, marking a significant advance in the fight against port-related air pollution. This pilot project is being carried out in collab-oration between the Port Authority, Inde-pendent Maritime Terminal (IMT) and the Flemish Community.

The availability of shore power means that ships at berth do not have to run their polluting diesel engines in order to power their electrical systems. Previously, shore power has already been available to barges, the Port Authority’s own fleet of service vessels, the dry dock complex, pleasure craft and houseboats. However, there was nothing available for seagoing ships, despite the fact that due to their size they have a bigger direct impact on the environment.

The project is a “first” in terms of the amount of power generated, the techni-cal characteristics of the system and the types of ships that can be served.

For the Port Authority the project forms an important part of its integrated

Flemish minister-president Kris Peeters starts up the first shore power system for seagoing ships : a “first” in terms of the high electrical capacity, the technical characteristics and the types of ship that can be served.


67

approach to air pollution on a local scale. Shore power has environmental benefits in several different ways. These include immediate, significant reductions in pol-lutants such as CO2, NOx, SO2, VOS, N2O, CO and particulates. Using shore power cuts CO2 emissions by more than half. NOx emissions are reduced by as much as 97%, while CO emissions are practi-cally eliminated. These reductions form an important contribution towards com-bating the greenhouse effect.

Actieplan Fijn Stof en NO²In 2009 the Port Authority

worked intensively on the Particu-lates and NO² Action Plan drawn up in consultation with the City of Antwerp and the Flemish Environ-ment Administration. As part of this plan a number of projects were drawn up, aimed at improving air quality in the port area both in the short and in the medium term.

“Quick wins” that could be made immediately included replac-ing service vehicles with more economical, environment-friendly versions wherever possible, and

The total investment amounted to 1,117,829 euros, and IMT was able to benefit from a financial subsidy from the Port Authority and the Flemish Community.

By supporting this shore power project the Port Authority is taking practi-cal steps to meet its commitment to con-tribute towards implementing the par-ticulates action plan by means of specific port-related measures.

Economical, environment-friendly company vehicles: quick wins.

shore poWer: considerable potential for reducing emissions

Comparison of emissions by diesel engines (RO and MD) and shore power

emissions of nox* so2* Vos* pm*

Diesel engine (2.7% S) 12.47 12.30 0.40 0.80

Diesel engine (0.1% S) 11.80 0.46 0.40 0.30

Shore power 0.35 0.46 0.02 0.03

* in (g/kWh) Source: PNO consultants

emissions of co* co2* ch4* n2o*

Diesel engine 0.9 – 1.3 690 – 720 0.004 – 0.01 0.031

Shore power 0.0125 330 0.028 0.014

Reduction 99% > 50% – > 50%

* in (g/kWh) Source: Entec

introducing low-sulphur fuel for the Port Authority’s own tug and dredger fleet as of 1 January 2010. Together these measures reduce SO² emissions by around 30,000 kg per year. The Port Authority is pre-pared to pay a considerable extra amount for this.

Finally, the Port Authority now makes bicycles available for short trips between its various buildings.

68

ANNUAL AVERAGE PM10 VALUES IN THE PORT AREA (VMM REPORT)

Average values in µg/m3

European standard in µg/m3

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

NO AND NO2 – ANNUAL AVERAGE IN THE PORT VERSUS THE CITY AREA

NO

/NO

2 (μ

g/m

3 )

NO port

NO city area

NO2 port

NO2 city area

0

10

20

30

40

50

60


annual average values of particulates measured in the port area.From the graphic it can be seen that the annual average threshold of 40 µg/m³ has been respected since 2004.

nox air quality (Vmm report)Variation in the annual average NO and NO2 concentrations in the port and in the city. The norm for NO2 is 40 µg/m³. The measuring stations within the port area show that this norm is complied with on average, although the value is exceeded from time to time at some individual measuring stations.


69

Water bottom andsediment management Antwerp Port Authority aims to ensure safe navigation by

among other things providing sufficient draught of water for ships. At the same time it strives to keep the costs of dredging and processing dredger spoil under control, while maintaining a Good Economic Potential (GEP) for the dock complex.

AMORAS, a world-beating project In order to guarantee sufficient depth

of water for ships, a large amount of maintenance dredging spoil has to be disposed of each year. Since the amount of space for disposal using the present techniques is insufficient, and since the techniques themselves are no longer environmentally acceptable, the Flem-ish government in consultation with the Port Authority several years ago decided to develop an environment-friendly alter-native. The AMORAS plant represents a new, sustainable, future-oriented process-ing technique with appropriate attention to environmental aspects. Indeed, the plant is a world-beating example of innovation.

AMORAS is the Dutch acronym for “Antwerp mechanical water extraction and recycling and application of sludge.” The project involves construction and operation of a dewatering plant and a protected, space-saving repository for controlled storage of dewatered cakes of sludge.

Even during construction of the plant, the environment was taken into account: the specifications for the construction imposed low consumption of energy and water, the use of high-quality, purified waste water, and measures to protect the sea bed and to limit odour nuisance. The main sources of excess noise were grouped together inside closed buildings.

A number of nature compensation measures were also taken to offset the effects of construction. Possible solutions are being sought to make use of the end product of the sludge processing, namely the filter cake.

The AMORAS plant is now under con-struction, and the complete project can be followed at www.Amoras.be.

70


AMORAS, an innovative project with useful applications for the dewatered filter cake as an important part.

The development of useful applica-tions for the dewatered filter cake forms an important part of the AMORAS project. Such recycling is liable to be more sus-tainable and cost-saving especially in the longer term. It is therefore important to go ahead with practical research in order to build up knowledge of filter cake and to investigate the possibilities for use, for example in bricks, the concrete industry or road construction.

The figure shows the conditions for recycling in accordance with the VLAREA legislation, in graphic terms. Material in the orange areas can be re-used with the present known quality, while material in the red area must either be sent to landfill or be dewatered using a specific AMORAS process to immobilise certain impurities. The results of the analysis will be updat-ed in 2010.

riVer bed on the right bank: possible reuse as construction material

Source: Provincial Institute for Hygiene

Compliance with VLAREA requirements for construction materials (without EOX)

Water bottom in right bank area

CompliesDoes not comply

N

Creator: PIHDate:Scale: 1:750 00


71

Nature conservation and use of space

During the past years, “nature compensation areas” have been set aside to make up for the loss of natural habitat due to port expansion. The policy is to progress from “ad hoc” compen-sation towards sustainable maintenance of designated protec-tion areas within the port. Thus the Port Authority is working to create large, new, contiguous conservation areas on the pe-riphery of the port. This will ensure that habitats and species can be properly conserved in the long term, especially on the left bank of the Scheldt where the main expansion of the port is taking place, while agriculture and further port expansion also remain possible within the other parts.

The Port Authority is collaborating in initiatives aimed at enabling the port to coexist with nature. For instance, since 2000 the Port Authority has been collaborating closely with Natuurpunt, the largest wildlife NGO in Flanders. Under the title of “The Port of Antwerp More Naturally” a network of ecology infrastructure is being built up in the area of the port. “Ecology infrastructure” is the term for small wildlife areas that can co-exist with other activities. A network of core areas, corridors and stepping stones is being created within the Antwerp port area, thus affording opportunities for wildlife without hampering the growth and operation of the port.

The objective is to conserve about 5% of the port area as eco-logical infrastructure. The port of Antwerp currently has more than 580 ha of nature conservation areas that provide opportuni-ties for species that are frequently found in port environments, such as sand martins, black headed gulls, terns, natterjack toads and marsh helleborine orchids.

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A permanent home for black headed gullsThe black headed gull is named in the

EU’s Birds Directive as a strictly protected species, and is found at various places within the port. Since these areas where the gulls come to breed are gradually be-ing eaten up by further expansion of the port, several years ago the Port Authority started searching for a permanent breed-ing site that could be used by the birds.

An excellent location was found inside the loop formed by the nearby A12/R2 highway. After an extensive feasibility study it was decided to opt for an island concept with four breeding islands sur-rounded by as much water as possible, with dryer and wetter areas. The breed-ing islands are separated from one anoth-er and surrounded by an enlarged circular ditch. The completed site was handed over in 2009.

Creation of the Kallo Reedbed nature areaAntwerp Port Authority, Infrabel

and the Left Bank Corporation are jointly developing a “reeds and water” nature compensation area covering a maximum area of 46.6 ha. The “Kallo Reedbed” is located in Beveren (Kallo) and is in full development.

Kallo reedbed.

A permanent breeding site for black headed gulls.


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1 Groot Buiten saltmarsh

2 Het Zoute

3 Construction valley area (phase 1)

4 Galge saltmarsh

5 Black headed gull breeding site

6 Schijns

7 De Kuifeend

8 De Grote Kreek

9 Wood polder – Ekers marsh

A Blokkers dike

B Groot Rietveld

D Kallo reedbed

C Vlakte van Zwijndrecht

E Liefkenshoek Fort

F Melkader – Bullrushes

Scheldt and docks

Under development

Port area

Habitat type: “reeds – water”

Habitat type: “pond – bank”

Habitat type: “meadow birds”

Habitat type: “beach – pond”

Reed marsh

Estuarine nature area

Construction valley area

Other nature areas

Permanent ecological infrastructure

Reservation strip for infrastructure, also used as ecological infrastructure

G Steenland polder

H Haasop

I Ketenisse saltmarsh

J Fort Sint-Marie

K Spanish Fort

L Drij dike

N Putten meadow

P Freshwater Creek

M Verrebroek ponds

Q Grote Geule

R Doel polder North and Brakke Creek

O Putten West

P Prosper polder North (under development)

Q The Paarden saltmarsh – Ouden Doel saltmarsh

R MIDA areas

R Doel dock (�lled in)

Saeftinghe Development Area

Deurganck Dock

Second lock (in preparation)

nature areas in the port of antWerp

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Waste managementThe Port Authority aims to expand and improve its

services for collection and processing of port-related waste within the port area. For this purpose it encourages initiatives for clustering the waste flows and for “closing the circuit,” through collaboration between port users.

The basic objectives are: correct application of the concept of “waste” (as defined in the recent Waste frame-work guideline); compliance with the hierarchy of waste (the “Landsink ladder”); application of the principle “the polluter pays”; and greater cost efficiency in collection and processing of waste.

A waste plan with ambitionThe Port Authority has drawn up a

three-year waste management plan for collection and processing of ship’s waste. Such three-year plans fit in with both EU and Flemish regulations. The waste management plan covers the period from 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2012. The Port Authority has an excellent reputation in this area, and at various international forums it has been invited to make its expertise available both to other ports and to regulatory bodies.

The figures for the past three years show that Antwerp’s waste management plan has been successful. The Port Authority also ensures that ship’s waste can be handed over in a simple way at a fair price. Antwerp makes a greater contribution towards the costs than other ports.

The European Maritime Safety Agency has asked OVAM (one of the partners that Antwerp Port Authority collaborates in-tensively with) to explain its waste man-agement plan to port authorities in new EU member states or applicant states.

A clean port with sufficient facilities: simple and fairly priced.



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Barge waste centresLast year the Port Authority start-

ed upgrading the waste centre for barges on quay 75. By expanding the waste centres (three in all) the Port Authority aims not just to keep up with the legal requirements but also to ensure safe, correct waste collection.

The expansion and upgrading will also permit selective collection of larger amounts of barge waste, so that it can be reprocessed more efficiently. Various types of waste such as paper and cardboard can be recycled. This not only benefits the environment but also saves reprocessing costs.

Non-dangerous waste can be deposited separately in the waste containers on the waterfront, seven days a week. Dangerous waste on the other hand can only be handed in while the waste centre supervisor is on duty. The project also has a social dimension: supervi-sors will be drawn from among Port Authority employees who need to rejoin the work process after illness or accident.

GISTI LuithagenA pilot project to promote sepa-

rate waste collection by compa-nies (GISTI) is being carried out in the Luithagen area. By getting companies to combine their waste collection the Port Authority aims to reduce the waste processing costs and streamline the logistics (less distance driven = less environ-mental pollution and less energy consumption).

The Port Authority also wants to look at the possibilities for ex-changing waste materials (on the principle “one company’s waste is another’s raw material”) so as to achieve sustainable waste man-agement. Such a project is a first, modest step towards creating more sustainable industrial areas.

BARGE WASTE

VOLU

ME

IN T

ON

NES

Miscellaneous dangerous/chemical waste

Miscellaneous non-dangerous waste

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

289.47

473.08

328.63

578.10

299

411

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FiNaNcial sustaiNability

Policy Vision

Antwerp Port Authority aims to follow a balanced financial policy so as to have a sound financial basis to assure its activities and investments in the short and long term.

A dividend of 12.8 million euros was paid to the City of Antwerp in 2009, the same amount as in 2008.


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( in euros x 1000 ) financial year 2009 financial year 2008 financial year 2007

Operating income 297,122 322,968 302,281

Operating charges (209,218) (235,203) (214,521)

operating profit 87,904 87,765 87,760

Financial proceeds 16,683 19,544 19,788

Financial charges (1,655) (6,970) (8,079)

profit on ordinary actiVities 102,932 100,339 99,469

Extraordinary income 2,576 12,204 95

Extraordinary charges (40,975) (540) (351)

profit before taxes 64,533 112,003 99,213

Taxes (18) (67) (32)

profit for the financial year 64,515 111,936 99,181

Income Statement

In 2009 the Port Authority made a profit of 64.5 million euros. The main components of this result, which was significantly lower than in 2008, are as follows:

Turnover is down by 8.3% due to the lower level of activity in the port throughout the year, although the operating costs re-mained stable overall compared with 2008. Whereas in previous years the provisions within the operating result led to a net cost, in 2009 there was a net write-back, mainly due to the decision to completely do away with the provision for major overhauls. The extraordinary costs come to 41 million euros, largely due to the impact of the protocol signed on 3 February 2009 with the City of Antwerp for transfer of the “Eilandje” area.

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Operating income

Income from concessions is up by 3% thanks to a combination of increased fees in the first half of 2009 and further phasing in of areas for the Deurganck dock and putting them into operation.

As regards shipping dues, the lower level of activity led to 14% lower income, largely due to the reduction in berthing dues, followed immediately by a reduction in tonnage dues. Barge dues were similarly down by 6% because of the lower activity.

The tugging department carried out 15.6% fewer jobs, and the number of slings invoiced was down significantly, by 17.9%. Since fuel costs were lower than in 2008, the fuel supplement charged was also lower, leading to a further drop in turnover.

The turnover from sales of electricity remained more or less stable at 11.7 million euros, compared with 11.9 million in 2008. The tariffs charged in 2009 remained the same as in 2008, pending approval of the long-term tariff.

After several years of growth, the dock cranes and floating cranes both felt the impact of the lower level of activity in the port, and so the Port Authority had to absorb a significant drop in the level of turnover. But despite this decline significant progress was made with more intensive collaboration between the two types of crane, which are now expressed as a single commercial unit.

The other operating income amounted to 48.6 million euros in 2009, compared with 51.7 million in 2008. This operating income consists to a large extent of operational subsidies from the Flemish Region (25.3 million euros in 2009 and 30.1 million in 2008). The subsidies are a contri-bution towards the costs that the Port Authority incurs in carrying out tasks that are actually incumbent upon the Flemish Region under the terms of the Port Decree.

As in 2008, the other operating income in 2009 in-cluded the amounts passed on for withholding tax on income from real estate and water supplies, totalling 16.2 million euros (15.9 million in 2008).


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Operating charges

Purchases of services and miscellaneous goods are down by 4.5 million euros, mainly for the following reasons:∙ lower expenditure on fuel for vessels and other float-

ing equipment, due to the lower level of activity;∙ lower costs for waste processing, mainly comprising

soil clean-up costs;∙ lower engineering study costs, because in 2008 there

was a one-off cost for the AMORAS project;∙ lower advertising expenditure;∙ lower temporary employment costs.

The personnel costs amounted to 113.7 million euros, compared with 107.0 million euros in 2008. This means payroll costs rose by 6.2%. The main reasons for the increase are as follows:∙ an increase of 2% in the number of personnel;∙ the full impact of the index-linked wage rises in

2008 (2.6%);∙ the further impact of the new division into wage

classes (2.2%);∙ an increase in the provision for holiday pay for em-

ployees with permanent status, because the level of employer’s social security contributions will be higher in 2010.

Within the operating costs, the provisions have decreased on balance by 15.7 million euros. This differ-ence is due mainly to the cancellation of the provision for major overhauls, amounting to 36 million euros, to-gether with the additional provision overall for environ-mental matters, amounting to 23 million euros.

The main components of the other operating charges are the withholding tax on income from real estate and the tax on water supply points.

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Financial incomeThe financial result rose from 12.6 million to

15.0 million euros, due to the following factors:∙ an increase in amortisation of investment grants,

from 13.6 to 15.3 million euros. This increase is a consequence of the full amortisation of investment grants for certain assets in the Eilandje area whose net book value has been written off against extraordinary expenditure;

∙ a significant drop in debt costs, the positive effect of which was further enhanced by a partial write-back (1.5 million euros) of last year’s write-down on investments.

Extraordinary result The extraordinary result, namely a net cost of 38.4

million euros, is made up of the following components:

a) On 3 February 2009 the board of directors ap-proved an agreement with the City of Antwerp, the provisions of which include the following:∙ The “gratis” transfer to the City of Antwerp of the

land and assets owned by the Port Authority in the Eilandje area, carried out per site, in principle on the expiry dates of the current concessions for each site. The resulting write-off amounts to 16.1 million euros;

∙ In the course of the coming years the Port Authority will renovate the various quay walls of the docks in the Eilandje area, so as to bring them into good con-dition consistent with their present function. Provi-sion of 13 million euros has been set aside for this;

∙ Payment of 6 million euros to the City of Antwerp by the Port Authority.

∙ In addition, there are possible financial implications as a result of these transfers, depending on the timing, for which a provision of 4.5 million euros has been set aside.

The total impact therefore amounts to 39.6 million euros.

b) Capital losses on the disposal of certain fixed assets, amounting to 1.1 million euros. This mainly concerns the sale of some old vehicles and the disused rails of a sea lock.

c) Capital gains on the disposal of certain fixed assets, amounting to 2.4 million euros. This mainly concerns the sale of various buildings which under the terms of a concession agreement have been sold to the concession-holder.


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(in euros x 1,000) 31/12/2009 31/12/2008 31/12/2009 31/12/2008

assets liabilities

I/III. Intangible/tangible assets 996,042 1,012,409 I. Capital 307,110 307,110

IV. Financial assets 1,214 589 III. Revaluation surplus 12,458 13,686

V. Receivables > 1 year 7,682 3,333 IV. Reserves 364,566 311,741

VI. Stocks 2,471 2,474 VI. Investment grants 261,878 274,569

VII. Receivables < 1 year 33,101 51,307 VII. Provisions 128,025 126,395

VIII. Investments 133,386 112,158 VIII. Amounts payable > 1 year 21,556 34,600

IX. Liquid assets 38,702 7,342 IX. Amounts payable < 1 year 94,162 93,722

X. Deferred charges and accrued income 7,050 6,880 X. Accrued charges and deferred income 29,893 34,669

total 1,219,648 1,196,492 total 1,219,648 1,196,492

Balance Sheet Summary balance sheet

Assets The amount of tangible and intangible assets has

fallen by 16.4 million euros. This net amount is made up as follows:

million euros

Investments + 45.4

Depreciation & amortisation - 39.9

Retirals/write-downs - 21.9

The investments are made up mainly of the following components:∙ docks and quay walls (20.7 million euros);∙ buildings (2.7 million euros);∙ tugs (10.6 million euros).

The long-term trade accounts receivable include concession fees for which a payment schedule over a longer period has been agreed. As last year, the other long-term accounts receivable are a partial contribution by the Port Authority for a pre-ground bank (land reserve).

The trade accounts receivable have remained fairly stable, down by only 1.8 million euros. By contrast, the other accounts receivable have fallen sharply because a number of subsidies that still had to be repaid at the end of last year have now been settled, so that there are no arrears on the pre-payments received under the terms of the Port Decree.

Thanks to the positive result overall and the positive cashflow for the financial year, the short-term invest-ments have risen from 112.2 million to 133.4 million euros.

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Liabilities The capital and reserves have risen because out of

the total net result of 64.5 million euros, 51.7 million was appropriated to capital and reserves and 12.8 mil-lion was appropriated as profit to be paid out.

The provisions have increased overall by only 1.3%. Underlying this, however, are large changes in the provision for major maintenance (-36 million euros) and in the provision for other contingencies and costs (+38 million euros). The latter increase is due to additional provisions for environment-related matters, together with certain obligations on the part of the Port Authority under the terms of the protocol signed with the City of Antwerp for transfer of the assets in the Eilandje area.

The financial debts were repaid in 2009 according to the agreed due dates. There were also opportunities to pay off certain debts early at financially advantageous terms.

The amounts payable within 1 year have remained stable, at 94.2 million euros at the end of 2009 compared with 93.7 million euros at the end of 2008. Like last year, the profit of 12.8 million euros to be paid out has been included under the heading “Other debts.”



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2009 2008 2007

short-term investments and liquid assets at start of year 119,500 95,733 78,395

Cashflow generated from operating activities 115,040 139,085 134,900

Cashflow devoted to investment activities (36,499) (65,930) (52,341)

Cashflow devoted to financing activities (25,952) (49,388) (65,221)

short-term investments and liquid assets at year end 172,089 119,500 95,733

Cashflow Statement The cashflow is summarised in the table below.

As in the two previous years, the cashflow ultimately generated is positive.

The cashflow from operating activities has decreased due to the lower level of activity in 2009.

The cashflow devoted to investment activities is down; while the investment programme in 2009 included a number of large projects, these were not on the scale of previous years.

The cashflow devoted to financing activities is simi-larly down because these were limited to the repay-ment of debts according to the due dates, and there was no additional accelerated amortisation.

The auditors Deloitte Bedrijfsrevisoren, Mr. G. Lauwers and Mrs. A. Coolsaet have approved the annual accounts without qualification.

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HR policy

Policy vision

The Port Authority’s HR policy is summed up in the slogan “Building commitment together.”

Commitment Wide-ranging efforts in this direction were made last year, both by

the organisation and by members of personnel. After all, commitment can only be attained if employees feel involved and respected and are motivated to achieve the best in their job.

Appraisal and assessment The present appraisal system was no

longer considered up to date, and so in 2009 a new system with new appraisal scores was introduced for all employees.

In addition, Besmarto job objectives were formulated for executives. These lay down the results, behaviour and abilities expected of each member of staff, and form the basis for scoring the appraisal interview. However, the job objectives are not defined in a hard and fast way, and interim perform-ance discussions are held to enable both employee and manager to provide input and make any adjustments necessary.

When introducing a new system it is of course necessary to monitor its success, obtain feedback and carry out corrections where required. One important aspect of this concerned calibration of the agreements and the results.

The job holders concerned received the necessary training to learn about the new procedure and become familiar with it.

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NieuwsbriesSince July 2009 all employees re-

ceive a newsletter entitled “Nieuws- bries” along with their wage slip. With this new initiative the Internal Communication unit aims to offer an additional channel of communica-tion for all members of personnel in a simple way. The newsletter is mainly used to distribute personnel-related information about events and activi-ties organised by the Port Authority.

CoursesTraining courses are an important

part of the Port Authority’s person-nel policy. The Training department organises courses in among other things Open Office, the new office automation application introduced to replace Microsoft Office. There are also courses for people who have to use Maximo. Members of personnel can take the initiative to apply for courses themselves. The Training department then decides in consul-tation with the applicant and that person’s manager how best to meet the request in a cost-efficient, results-oriented way.

Senior managers and executives participated in two “Management Days” under the title of “Transparency, participation and input.” The main topics were empowerment of person-nel and increasing their involvement in the business plan.

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT

N° of employees involved 757

N° of training hours followed 9,519

Training costs 266,724

Internal communication on the subject of the 2009 – 2013 Business Plan: CEO Eddy Bruynincks address one of the information sessions for members of personnel.

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HR policy

Recruitment policy Having the right person in the right place at the right time is crucial

for a good recruitment policy. Everything starts with recruitment, and so the necessary attention was paid to this in 2009.

Interesting jobs in a world-class port The search for good employees remains a

daily challenge, and even the Port Authority has its share of jobs that are difficult to fill. Accordingly, extra attention was paid last year to employer branding. The Port Authority positioned itself strongly in the market with a new campaign carrying a clear message for young people and job seekers: Antwerp Port Authority offers real, attractive job opportunities.

Much attention was also paid to offering a varied, gender-neutral selection of jobs, and a wide range of job opportunities with the same look & feel was developed. The possibility of working in a large organisation with international activities was held out as an additional advantage.

The striking, closely targeted campaign brought attention to all aspects of the Port Authority in an attractive way, with:— advertisements in the specialist and

general press— beer mats with various headlines distrib-

uted at student events and job fairs— a city tram decked out in the Port

Authority’s livery— job fairs— a slogan tower for the existing and

future Port House— online advertisements

Despite the financial crisis and the eco-nomic recession the Port Authority had 100 or so vacancies last year. Additional members of personnel were needed for the further renewal of the organisation and to compensate for natural turnover among employees.

The Port Authority was mainly in search of people with technical, nautical, financial, IT or HR skills, such as electrical mainte-nance technicians, sailors and tugboat captains, engineers, business analysts, application managers and HR assistants.

A successful Job Fair held in the Port House (top photo), and one of the advertising trams that livened up the Antwerp street scene.

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Job fairsIn 2009 the Port Authority took part

in nine job fairs, two of them organ-ised by itself.

At these events the technical posi-tions that are less easily to fill figured prominently. The personnel depart-ment was assisted on these occasions by members of personnel from the various operational departments who were able to give practical informa-tion about what the jobs involved. The job day was a great success: 1,000 or so job seekers visited the event itself or the port vessels, or were treated to a guided tour of some of the Port Authority’s departments.

At the “WaterkAnt” job event, the Port Authority presented jobs in the hugely varied working environment of the port. Through events such as these the Port Authority also seeks to recruit a pool of employees who will eventually rise to become execu-tives. Indeed, working in and around the port offers many and varied

Job publicity (top), and a Levanto trainee on the Brabo mobile crane (bottom): opportunities for job-seekers without nautical experience.

opportunities. More than 15,000 visi-tors came to see the training village, the job experience hall and the infor-mation stands. One big attraction was “De Reynaert,” the dredger operated by DEME.

A Award recruit-ment campaignThe Port Authority’s recruitment

campaign developed by the Universal Communication advertising agency won a Triple A Award (Antwerp Advertising Awards). The brief for the campaign was to create a young, posi-tive image as an employer, presenting the Port Authority as it really is: a dynamic, varied work environment.

LevantoIn collaboration with the apprentice-

ship firm Levanto the Port Authority trained 16 job seekers without any basic maritime knowledge to be sea-men. The candidates receive practical training with the Port Authority and Levanto for a period of 12 months, during which they receive a wage. Af-ter one year their training is complete and they are ready to start their job.

Top employer 2009 This label awarded by the Corpo-

rate Research Foundation identifies “best practices” in the field of HR management. The Port Authority obtained scores ranging from good to very good for primary and secondary conditions of employment, internal promotion opportunities, training and corporate culture.

N° OF VACANCIES AND THROUGHPUT OF INTERNAL/EXTERNAL TRAINEES

N° of jobs declared open 44

N° of vacant places 80

N° of places filled internally 22

N° of trainees 32

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Welfare of employees and internal organisation

HR policy

Each individual employee deserves attention to be able to function to the best of his or her abilities. By paying attention to the wellbeing of employees the Port Authority is able to optimise its own internal organisation.

A people organisation After illness or accident, employees

sometimes need a transition period before they can return to their normal job. By mak-ing temporary modifications to their job, their position or working hours they are able to gradually build up to their normal work-load over a certain period. If it turns out that they are not able to reach this objective due to lasting disability, alternatives are sought within the Port Authority in order to offer them a job that matches their ability while meeting the economic needs of the Port Authority.

By intensively following such a pro-gramme, employees are able to start work again sooner after illness or accident, yield-ing a win-win situation for both parties.

Examples include:— supervisor in a barge waste centre, so

that the centre is no longer unmanned and fly tipping is prevented;

— welcoming candidates during the selection procedure.

For the purposes of getting people back to work the Port Authority has developed collaboration with among others Levanto, the Port Tornados, Lillo Port Centre, the Golden Anchor and others.

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Commuter fundSustainable transport is an impor-

tant concern for the Port Authority, which has submitted an applica-tion to the Flemish government for a commuter fund for travel between home and work, on behalf of its own employees. The purpose is to obtain additional support for introducing a number of transport measures. The transport coordinator will be respon-sible for implementing, monitoring and evaluating the measures in the corporate transport plan. Relevant de-cisions are always judged according to the sustainable transport aspects. Good internal communication plays an important role in assuring the success of this project.

Effective absenteeism policyA number of tools are used to keep

employees involved in the regular work of the organisation for as long as possible, or to get them back to work as soon as possible. Discussions with individual employees about absences are an important part of this. The Bradfort factor is used as a basis for the discussions with employees on this subject.

DiversityAs a large employer the Port

Authority aims to have a pool of em-ployees that is as diverse as possible, so as to form a true mirror of our soci-ety. Accordingly, special attention is paid to foreign job-seekers at job fairs and in communication with schools and colleges.

The Social Welfare department not only offers a listening ear but also looks for practical solutions within the Port Authority.

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Work differentlyThe Port Authority is expanding

and needs a new headquarters. The new Port House has to accommodate not only the administrative depart-ments but also a number of other departments that are currently spread out within the port area. The Port Authority wants to take advantage of the new location to “set about work differently” and to streamline the organisational process in an efficient, future-oriented way. An integrated, all-embracing concept was developed for the physical, virtual and mental environment, in collaboration with the Wicely consulting firm.

The information programme for this was launched in 2009. Employees are able to follow the progress of the new Port House on the internet and obtain answers to their questions, and a central information point has been set up. In preparation for the final move this process will be further developed, with site visits and information moments.

New staff regulationsThe current staff regulations are

now 12 years old and need to be

HR policy

Development of the organisation Every organisation undergoes changes as a result of internal and

external factors, and the Port Authority is no exception. During the past two years various departments have been reorganised in order to achieve the Port Authority’s own objectives and to meet the requirements of external players.

A future-oriented organisation One very good example of organisational

change is the “chain approach” and the wider role that the Harbourmaster’s Office aims to play within it. To achieve this, cer-tain organisational changes had to be made. The project group responsible for defining this new step in the chain approach was also asked to draw up a possible organisa-tional structure. This think tank has already outlined how the Shipping Management department could be organised. This led to a whole series of organisational changes not only in the Harbourmaster’s Office but also

in the operational departments and the in-frastructure department. The think tank also put forward various suggestions for the role and function of management within the new organisation. Such organisational changes additionally have repercussions for other departments.

In 2009 departments such as Infra-structure & Environment, Strategy & Development and Personnel carried out a practical exercise to harmonise the present and future requirements arising from the business plan.

updated. The process was started in 2009, with the aim of presenting a proposal for updated staff regulations and works regulations in 2010.

MaximoIn the meantime, Maximo was

introduced as a new tool, which also had an impact on the Personnel department. Work orders and time re-cording for the activities of employees are linked into this system and used as input for the wage calculations of the various departments.

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SuppoRt among Society

Policy Vision

The Port Authority strives to build up wide social sup-port for the port among all stakeholders, in Belgium and abroad. It aims to create greater awareness of the impor-tance of the port of Antwerp, to promote social integration between the port and wider environment, and to achieve maximum participation among the various players and stakeholders involved.

For this purpose it uses a wide and varied range of tools, which are coordinated with one another by means of the sponsorship and communication plans.

Dialogue with society The Port Authority has for many years

followed a balanced sponsorship and events policy. This sponsoring helps to create wider support, both internally and among external society. It also raises the Port Authority’s visibility and name rec-ognition, and creates goodwill among the various target groups. The targeted spon-sorship policy also strengthens existing professional relationships and helps to forge new ones.

In 2009 the sponsorship policy was further developed and streamlined. The three main components — culture, sport and socially responsible enterprise — remained the same and were further developed.

CEO Eddy Bruynincks meets the Antwerp Giants: making the port better known by sponsoring sports.

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WaterkAnt 2009: past and present


During the last weekend of September the “Eilandje” neighbourhood was trans-formed into a unique scene of all things maritime, in a celebration of Antwerp’s seafaring heritage. Held for the fifth time, this biennial event had an even wider scope in 2009. In addition to the seafaring past it also featured today’s modern port, and addi-tionally included a job fair to let the general public become acquainted with the various careers offered by the port. The emphasis was on long-term recruitment. The message was aimed at young people in particular, telling them how the port offers a promising future and varied job opportunities.

To make the celebration complete Radio 2 in collaboration with the Port Authority and the City of Antwerp organ-ised a national cycling and walking day to coincide with WaterkAnt. The theme-based walking and cycling routes enabled

sport lovers to discover the extensive nature of the port, based on the theme of the popular television series “Kinderen van Dewindt.”

The brand new cycle map was distrib-uted by the Port Authority at the cycling and walking event. This free map offers four cy-cling routes for visitors to explore the port. It was immediately popular, with more than 18,000 copies being handed out in 2009.

WaterkAnt is a successful project aimed at the general public, combining the tradi-tions of the past with the modern aspects of the port: a port with a history and tradition, a vital port, a port with a future, a sustain-able port and a world port with a human face. WaterkAnt is organised in collabora-tion with the City of Antwerp and the port of Antwerp.

WaterkAnt 2009: the port in the picture, with its past and future, open and accessible to all.

WaterkAnt 2009: the Proot family from West Flanders receives the 10,000th cycle map. Port alderman and chairman Marc Van Peel welcomes them with a port cycling pack.

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Left: The Port Pavilion, at the foot of the Museum (MAS), will become a place of discovery for the general public and an open house for port companies. Top centre:The job fair at WaterkAnt 2009 showed what the port has to offer.Bottom centre:The 2009 Port Concert: a high-class musical evening for and about the port.Right:The Chinese State Opera at Art Port.

MAS Port PavilionBelow the future Museum aan de

Stroom (MAS) are four pavilions on which a concession has been granted to the founders of the museum, one of which is the Port Authority. In 2009 the fitting out of the pavilion was en-trusted to Crepain Binst Architecture as the winner of a competition for this purpose, and work started on the lay-out. The aim is to present a dynamic picture of a modern, contemporary port, using the very latest interactive multimedia techniques. MAS and the Port Pavilion together form the main gateway to the port, forming a link between it and the city. For the gen-eral public the Port Pavilion is a place of discovery, while for the various port companies the complex is an open house which they can make use of to entertain business relations.

Art port As part of the “Art port” project,

the Port Authority has since 2008 been the main sponsor of the DeSingel International Art Campus and sponsor of DeFilharmonie, a unique collaboration that will run up to and including the 2012/2013 season. This project covers all the other cultural projects (e.g. Jazz Middelheim) that receive support from the Port Authority.

The DeSingel Art Port season ticket covers four performances, at each of which the Port Authority invites 100 or so business relations and members of personnel to attend.

Also in 2009 the Port Concert was held for the second time. Some 900 people were invited to this unique concert by DeFilharmonie, including professional and business relations, contacts in the worlds of politics and society, members of personnel and people from the surrounding commu-nities. Last year this concert was one of the highlights of the sponsorship calendar.

Sports events The Port Authority also tries to

reach various target groups by spon-soring sports. In fact, sports sponsor-ing is very important because of the wide and very varied audience that it reaches, and because it is able to present a unique visual message. In 2009 it was decided to continue the commitment to high-level sport. The amount of the sponsorship money is decided at an annual assessment. In 2009 the Port Authority partnered the European campaign of the Antwerp Giants.

In addition to culture and sport the Port Authority wishes to give par-ticular emphasis in future to the third aspect, namely socially responsible enterprise.

Like the sponsoring in 2009 of the ‘Pulderbos Project’ run by the King Baudouin Foundation, a rehabilitation centre for children with serious neuro-logical or respiratory problems.

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Dialogue with the public In building up the widest possible support among society it

is very important to get the general public involved in the port. The Port Authority goes about this in various ways.

Antwerp welcomes its Beatrice The arrival in 2009 of the MSC Beatrice,

the world’s largest container carrier (14,000 TEU), was a unique opportunity to involve the general public in this very important event for the port of Antwerp. The media were alerted well in advance with full de-tails, so that they could fulfil their duty of information.

The general public was invited to wel-come the Beatrice as she sailed into the port, and to encourage people to come along there was a photographic competition with an attractive prize. The turnout was mas-sive: thousands of people lined up on the shore to welcome the ship. Factsheets with

all the main information about the Beatrice were distributed, explaining the significance of its arrival, the importance of the port of Antwerp for the Flemish and Belgian econo-my, and the vital necessity of deepening the Western Scheldt.

A short DVD of the arrival was also made, which was offered to the various stakeholders.

The crew of the MSC Beatrice have never been welcomed so enthusiastically.


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Exhibition Quay 63An exhibition featuring the con-

struction of the new Port House on the site on quay 63 was organised, at which visitors could see the models submitted by the five architectural firms that made the shortlist. The exhibition was held in the garage of the historic building that occupies the site. This gave visitors a chance to see how the winning project submit-ted by Zaha Hadid will look.

The opportunity was taken to also present the Port Authority’s other renovation and construction projects. The exhibition was held a second time at the WaterkAnt event.

Brochures and LeafletsIn order to keep the public as well

informed as possible, brochures were also distributed. In addition to the tra-ditional leaflets with general informa-tion about the port and Antwerp Port Authority, more specialised material was printed in 2009.

The new map of the port with its handy format is not only a useful guide to the port but also a way of presenting various facts and figures in a non-serious way. The cycle map in particular was a big hit, showing four cycle routes and the various sights around the port. In all more than 15,000 copies of the new map of the port and 18,000 copies of cycle map were handed out.

Exhibition on quay 63: models submitted by the five architectural firms on the shortlist, together with a presentation of the Port Authority’s other

renovation and construction projects.

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Dialogue between portcommunity and customers


In addition to the many commercial and informal contacts, the Port Authority has set up a number of bodies for formal consultation with its customers and the port companies.

Room for consultation The Consultative Council is made up of

representatives of the employers’ organisa-tions (Alfaport, ABAS, KVBG, ASV, KBRV, CEPA, VEA, VOKA), road, rail and barge transport, the employees’ organisations (ACOD/LRB, BTB, ABVV, ACV-Transcom, ACV-Openbare Diensten, LBC/NVK, ACV, ACLVB), Antwerp Port Authority, the City of Antwerp, the Left Bank Corporation and the Customs & Excise Administration.

The Council discusses matters of con-cern to its members and the port. At the beginning of last year its discussions were

entirely devoted to the economic crisis, and positions were taken on various matters. Within this formal consultation the parties involved urged a joint approach to the crisis. At the initiative of the Port Authority this eventually led to a “Total plan for a more competitive port,” with 10+1 work groups being set up and immediately getting down to business.

In addition to the joint initiatives to emerge from the crisis stronger than ever, the typical Antwerp feeling of community provided an additional boost to the efforts.

Customer satisfaction surveyThe Commercial department organ-

ised a customer satisfaction survey, giving the various other departments a better idea of what is going on within the port.

Left Bank CorporationThe Left Bank Corporation and the

Port Authority are in direct consulta-tion on further expansion of the port of Antwerp. The Corporation is repre-sented on the Port Authority’s board of directors and on the Consultative Council. The Port Authority for its part is a shareholder in the Corpora-tion and is represented on its board of directors.

APN and RADARThe Port Authority’s Communica-

tion department sends the quarterly Antwerp Port News to customers all over the world. This magazine (in English, French, Dutch, German and Chinese) mainly contains commercial news about the port. A lively port naturally has much to tell, and many news items would otherwise be over-looked or forgotten. To cover these fast-moving developments the month-ly Radar newsletter was introduced last year. This e-newsletter in English and Dutch enables the Port Authority to keep customers, neighbours and other interested parties informed in a direct and lively manner.

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Dialogue with national and international politicsA publicly-owned, economic heavyweight such as the Port

Authority naturally has contacts with the world of politics. The Port Authority therefore makes sure to keep the political world informed in a clear, consistent way about the operation of the port of Antwerp.

Open house When the new Flemish government

took power, the Port Authority contacted a number of its leading members whose brief touches on port activities, inviting them for a visit. The invitation was accepted by minister-president Kris Peeters, minister of Transport & Public Works Hilde Crevits, and minister of Finance, Budget, Works, Town & Country Planning and Sport Philippe Muyters, as well as Steven Vanackere in his then capacity as vice first minister and minister of Civil Service Affairs, National-ised Companies and Institutional Reform within the federal government. The visit took the form of a working meeting together with a guided tour, so that the guests could become acquainted with the various aspects of the port.

Another visit to the port was paid by the MPs who are members of the Public Works committee. After the presentation of a number of current matters they took a tour of the port by boat. During the tour the emphasis was placed on investments in the port, both by the Port Authority and by the various private companies.

All the guests were also able to find out in depth about the nature conservation areas and the wide range of environmental investments.

L. to r.: governor of the Province of Antwerp, Cathy Berx, port alderman Marc Van Peel, Flemish minister-president Kris Peters and prince Philippe of Belgium.

Flemish minister Hilde Crevits comes to find out about the port.

As a new Flemish minister, Philippe Muyters also wanted to look around.

The MPs in the Public Works Committee are given ex-planations about the many investments in the port of Antwerp.

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As in previous years, the Port Authority was able to welcome various foreign dignitaries. On the occasion of the state visit to Antwerp by president Victor Yushchenko of Ukraine a collaboration agreement was signed with the port of Odessa. In mid-October Prince Philippe of Belgium welcomed the Chinese vice-president Xi Jinping in the port of Antwerp.

There were also various recep-tions and working visits with Dutch delegations such as the College of States Deputed of Zeeland, the politi-cal representatives of North Holland, authorities from the Far East and various others.

The Port Authority for its part regu-larly draws up reports for the City Council or the Council Committee, or makes presentations on particular subjects. For example, the progress reports on deepening of the Western Scheldt stood high on the agenda last year.

According to tradition there is a twice-yearly reception for all new diplomats, who are treated to a presentation and a tour of the port.


Top: Ukranian president Victor Yushchenko congratulates the chairman of Odessa Port Authority, who has just signed a collaboration agreement with port alderman Marc Van Peel.Centre: Chinese vice-president Xi Jinpeng studies a map of the port of Antwerp along with prince Philippe, Kris Peeters, Cathy Berx and Marc Van Peel.Bottom:In 2009 the port of Antwerp welcomed two large Indian delegations. Here we see the members of the CII Western Region Logistics Council.

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Discussion forums Antwerp Port Authority is a member of various national and

international discussion forums. Indeed, a continuous dialogue and flow of information at these levels is essential for the Port Authority. In addition to economic topics increasing attention has been paid in recent years to sustainability and support among society.

People around Ports On 20 – 21 April 2009 the kick-off meet-

ing was held in Rotterdam for “People around Ports” with support from ESPO, the European Sea Ports Organisation. With this joint project the various port authorities aim to generate greater social support for the ports by improving their image, investing in education and strengthening links between cities and their ports. The ultimate aim is to draw up a Code of Practice such as was developed in the 1990s for environmental management. Antwerp Port Authority is a member of the core group.

As well as announcing the Espo Award, at the first meeting there was great unanim-ity about the important role played by port authorities in creating wider support among society. In addition to being publicly-owned companies they have a key function within the port communities. All the participants also agreed on the crucial importance of communication for their own management, policymakers, the general public and po-tential employees. Another important point with which all port authorities are confront-ed is the accessibility of the port for the gen-eral public. In most cases ports have moved away from the city centre and so have lost many of their traditional links with the city. However, the greatest barrier to accessibil-ity is formed by the stringent security meas-ures, such as the ISPS.

Antwerp Port Authority has long been conscious of this difficult balance between security and accessibility. In 2009 a first roundup was made of possible initiatives. These included information boards, benches and viewpoints, among other things. The cycling map that was issued last year forms part of this philosophy, as does the construc-tion of new cycle tracks. The cycle track along the Noorderlaan, opened in May 2009, was given top marks for quality and safety by the Fietserbond (cyclists’ association).

People around Ports is therefore an interesting forum for taking stock of the port’s own situation and exchanging ideas.

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FPA – Flanders Port AreaThis initiative by the Flemish

government brings together the four seaports (Antwerp, Gent, Ostend and Zeebrugge) with the aim of reinforc-ing the competitive position of the Flemish ports region. The objective is to boost the competitiveness, promote the sustainability and widen the so-cial support of the Flemish ports.


ESPO – European Sea Ports OrganisationAntwerp Port Authority is a mem-

ber of this European organisation that represents EU ports and acts as an interest group.

AIVP – The worldwide network of port citiesThis organisation brings city and

port authorities together at various conferences and seminars on subjects of concern to both. Last year the Port Authority acted as guest speaker at the conference in Reykjavik (Iceland) on the subject of “Port cities and overall tourist strategies.”

Davos World Economic Forum

SeminarsThe Port Authority’s managers and

experts are regularly asked to present papers at international, national and local events.

Eddy Bruyninckx hosts a meeting of the North-Western European Ports.

104

Board of directors

Chairman· Marc Van Peel

Alderman for the Port and Personnel

· Eddy BruyninckxCEO of Antwerp Port Authority

· Wouter De GeestCEO of BASF Antwerpen, director and member of the bureau of Voka

· Peter DeckersChairman of the Left Bank Corporation

· Rudi De MeyerCEO of Alfaport Antwerpen

· Annick De RidderCity councillor, Open VLD party

· Bart De WeverCity councillor, NVA party

· Jozef Foubert (Sept. 2009) and· Freddy Willockx (from Sept. 2009)

Chairman of Interwaas

goveRning bodieS

CEO Eddy Bruyninckx and chairman Marc Van Peel on the bridge of the MSC Beatrice.

· Philip HeylenAlderman for Culture and Tourism

· Patrick JanssensMayor

· Erwin PaironCity councillor, Groen! party

· Jan PenrisCity councillor, Vlaams Belang party

· Peter SymensPolicy officer, Natuurpunt

· Bruno ValkeniersCity councillor, Vlaams Belang party

· Ludo Van CampenhoutAlderman for City Development, Sport and Diamonds

· Robert VoorhammeAlderman for Education, Economy, Employment and the Self-Employed

· Toon WassenbergCity councillor, sp.a party

· Eva WuytsCity councillor, sp.a party

· Luk LaerenberghSecretary

105

regional Port commissioner

· Antoon Colpaert

auditors

· Ann CoolsaetAuditor, city councillor

· Guy LauwersAuditor, city councillor

· Luc Van Coppenolle Deloitte auditors

management committee

· Eddy BruyninckxCEO, chairman of the management committee

· Jan AdamChief financial officer

· Luc ArnoutsChief commercial officer

· Greet BernaersInfrastructure & Environment manager

· Christiaan De BlockChief operations officer

· Pascale Van HoeckePersonnel manager

· Jan VerbistHarbourmaster

· Björn VerhoevenProperty manager

· Luk LaerenberghSecretary

106

BrazilMrs Madeleine OnclinxAvenida Ipiranga 200 Bloco D 20201046-925 São PauloBrazilT +55 11 3258 6214F +55 11 3259 2698E [email protected]

ChinaJan Van der BorghtSuite H, 32nd FloorShanghai Industrial Investm. BuildingNo.18 North Caoxi RoadShanghai 200030 China T +86 21 6427 8228M +86 136 5198 0085F +86 21 5496 0375E [email protected]

Stephen YenSuite H, 32nd FloorShanghai Industrial Investm. BuildingNo.18 North Caoxi RoadShanghai 200030 China T +86 21 6418 8006M +86 136 4192 0905 E [email protected]

GermanyDr. Dieter LindenblattGrutstrasse 1340878 RatingenGermanyT +49 2102 84 93 53M +49 171 48 97 359F +49 2102 92 96 89E [email protected]

IndiaRaj Khalid 50 Manuel Gonsalves RoadBandra, Mumbai 400050India T +91 22 2643 1913E [email protected]

Regional office PuneGaurav ManeT +91 95 6107 1700E [email protected]

United StatesEddy Dekkers380 Rector Place, Suite 5 PNew York, NY 10280USAT +1 212 945 3782F +1 212 945 7240E [email protected]

FoReign RepReSentativeS

107

The Annual Report is available in Dutch and English. You can read it online or order a printed version from Antwerp Port Authority, Communication Department.

PublisherAntwerp Port AuthorityPort House1 Entrepotkaai2000 AntwerpBelgiumT + 32 3 205 20 11F + 32 3 205 20 28E [email protected]

Design and layoutCatapult, Antwerp

PhotographyAntwerp Port Authority

PaperArctic the Volume, FSC certified

colopHon

annual report 2009

Documents