The opening of the New Lock in Terneuzen promises to boost the economy across the Netherlands and Belgium by enabling larger vessels to more efficiently transport goods through the North Sea Port. With plans for future dredging projects to deepen the port’s canal, the opening of the lock could be a first step in turbocharging the economy across the region.
Article by Edward Parshotam, Intent Communications, supplied to SWZ|Maritime by CEDA, ceda@dredging.org
The New Lock in Terneuzen, in the south of the Netherlands, received the royal stamp of approval at the end of 2024, when it was opened by the Dutch and Belgian kings. This royal welcome underlines the importance of the project and the economic boost the lock is expected to provide, allowing larger seagoing vessels to navigate Terneuzen and Ghent.
The New Lock is a significant milestone for the merged port area, which combines the former Dutch Zeeland Seaports and the Port of Ghent in Belgium. The 60-km cross-border North Sea Port provides more than 100,000 jobs and builds on centuries of collaboration between the Netherlands and Flanders.
Also read: Dutch and Belgian king open New Lock Terneuzen
Larger ships, permanent access
The New Lock launch is also part of a broader plan that encompasses dredging projects aimed at deepening the port’s canal, with a view to generating new levels of economic development for the Netherlands, Belgium, Flanders and the port area. The opening of the lock means Terneuzen can now allow ships 100 metres longer and a third wider to pass through, accommodating vessels up to 366 metres in length and 49 metres in width, with these larger ships playing an increasingly important role in international trade and shipping.
The additional lock also ensures the North Sea Port can provide permanent maritime access, offering an alternative during maintenance of the original locks to ensure transit can flow freely at all times. With the larger ships that can pass through the New Lock able to carry more cargo, this opening will also offer significant cost reductions to businesses, enabling them to reduce the number of trips required to transport their goods.
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Economic growth
As a result, it is expected that the New Lock will stimulate economic growth as businesses respond to more favourable conditions by investing in transporting more goods via the North Sea Port, generating employment and development opportunities across the region.
Speaking with CEDA Industry News, Geert Van Cappellen, General Secretariat at The World Association for Transport Infrastructure, explains: ‘There’s a clear economic case for developing this port, with the New Lock increasing capacity, avoiding congestion and reassuring businesses that there will be continued accessibility during periods of maintenance.’
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Going deeper
North Sea Port is exploring dredging projects aimed at deepening the port’s canal in order to accommodate vessels with a draught of up to 14.5 metres up to the first kilometre beyond the lock, compared with a current limit of 12.5 metres. This would mean oceangoing vessels would no longer need to offload cargo in order to reduce their draught before passing through the New Lock, but could instead do this more safely and cheaply at the port.
The launch of a new lock allowing access to larger vessels could significantly boost businesses and drive economic growth, according to Eleftheria Kragiopoulou, Engineer Advisor, IMDC. Speaking to CEDA Industry News, she explains: ‘Expanding access to larger vessels enhances a port’s competitiveness in global trade, attracting more shipping companies looking for efficient routes. Such projects generate employment opportunities, requiring larger port operations and logistics teams. Enhanced port capacity attracts additional ships, strengthening regional and national economies, while reinforcing global trade links.’
‘Moreover, improved port infrastructure often encourages further urban investment, such as the development of road and rail networks that link to the port. Accommodating larger, more fuel-efficient vessels can also contribute to reducing emissions per transported unit, aligning with sustainability and decarbonisation efforts in the maritime sector.’
‘Project could easily take twenty years’
Successfully achieving this is not without its challenges, however. The port authorities will naturally need to consider the impact on local residents and the surrounding area ahead of embarking on any expansion plans. Van Cappellen: ‘While there are significant potential benefits to deepening the port’s canal, the actual process of making it happen is still going to be subject to a lot of political debate as the pros and cons are weighed in terms of which areas to focus on. As such, we could easily expect this project to take up to twenty years before its full benefits are realised.’
While ambitious infrastructure projects take time, the opening of the New Lock, following seven years of construction, bodes well for the future and marks an important step in plans to power the region’s economic development.
Picture: The New Lock is a significant milestone for the merged port area, which combines the former Dutch Zeeland Seaports and the Port of Ghent in Belgium (photo supplied by CEDA).
Also read: Young CEDA: Adaptation is the key to dredging’s future
