The document summarizes the history and operations of the Port of Antwerp, which is the largest port in Europe by size and volume. It traces the port's development from the 1200s to present day, highlighting expansion projects and increased volume over time. Key facts are provided on the port's size, infrastructure, ownership structure, and role as a major global container port. Challenges around congestion and security are discussed, along with recommendations to maintain the port's status, such as expanding infrastructure, improving transport efficiency, and keeping technologies up to date.

1. The Port of Antwerp
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2. Contents
Introduction
Port of Antwerp development timeline
Port of Antwerp in numbers
Organization in the Port of Antwerp
Connections and storage and distribution solutions
Challenges faced by the port of Antwerp
Recommendations on how their status can be maintained
Conclusion
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3. Introduction
Antwerp is already the biggest port area in the world. Over the centuries, the area grew to exactly
12,068 hectares, or about 20,000 football fields. No other seaport is a centrally located in Europe as the port
of Antwerp. (Port of Antwerp 2017)
This central location offers the fastest and cheapest connections with the European hinterland, as well
as ecological advantages. Antwerp stands out as a multifunctional world class port, thanks to the presence
no only of handling and logistics companies but also industry within the port. In no other port are the
various services so closely coordinated. This makes the port of Antwerp the European destination hub
par excellence.
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4. Port of Antwerp development timeline:
 1200 to 1350
Antwerp is an export port for wine from the Rhine and Mosel regions,
destined for England
 1450
first expansion to the North, the Sint-Pietersvliet dock was put into use
 1550
ten (10) wharves spread over a distance of 2 km along the Scheldt, along with eight
(8) docks.
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5. Port of Antwerp development timeline:
 1811
Construction of the Bonaparte dock and
 1813
Construction of the Willem dock and the Bonaparte lock.
 1816 and 1829
The port experienced average annual growth of 4.5% and by 1829 it handled 129,000
tonnes of freight
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6. Port of Antwerp development timeline:
 1967
The Churchill dock was built
 1969
1 million tonnes mark exceeded for containers handled.
 1970-76
A six (6) year plan was developed for additions to the ports infrastructure
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7. Port of Antwerp development timeline:
 1975
The port handled 3.3 million containers
 1980
Construction of the Delwaide which was largely reserved for container handling.
 1985
Container volume reached 11 million tonnes
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8. Port of Antwerp development timeline:
 1990
The inauguration of the Europa terminal, and five (5) years later the freight volume
reaches 108 million tonnes including 25.8 million tonnes of containerized cargo.
(Worldbank.org)
 2003
Five (5) million TEU mark was reached for the first time ever
 2007
Antwerp recorded a freight volume of 182.9 million tonnes
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9. Port of Antwerp in numbers:
 Largest in size
 Total area: 13,057 ha
 Quay length 151 km
 Railway: 1061 km
 Roads:409 km
 Covered warehousing 556 ha
 Pipelines: 350 km
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11. Ownership in the Port of Antwerp
 The Antwerp Port Authority is an autonomous body that manages all
infrastructure in the port:
 Docks
 Bridges
 Quays
 Land
 Vessel traffic in the port
 Trade facilitation
 Marketing and branding activities
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12. Organization in the Port of Antwerp
 Private companies manage and operate:
 Terminals
 Cranes
 Equipment
 Warehouses
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13. Connections
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14. Storage and distribution solution
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 6.1 million m2 covered storage space
 Cool and Cold storage, hazardous goods warehouse etc
 Added value service
 Weighing
 Packing
 Quality control
 Labelling
 Stock management etc

15. Antwerp is Europe's most central seaport. Sea-going
vessels can transport goods 80 kilometers inland, into
the heart of Europe
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16. Infrastructure and security
 The port has benefitted greatly by the numbers of containers (140% in two
decades from 1990 – 2010) that passes through its terminal.
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17. Antwerp among the world’s top container
ports
 As at 2017 the Port of Antwerp held number fourteen (14) in the world’s top 100
container ports, a ranking published on October 30th 2017 by Lloyds list.
Growth continues
 In addition, thanks to its continuing growth, the Port of Antwerp has also closed
the gap with Europe’s biggest container port, Rotterdam, even further in 2017,
10.04 million containers passed through Antwerp, compared to 12.38 million in
Rotterdam for the same period.
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18. Challenges faced by the port of Antwerp:
 Cargo bottleneck during the European vacation Season
 Fault in cyber security
On numerous occasions hackers found their way into the systems controlling the
movement of containers within the port.
 Security
ID has been provided for the over 62,500 employees of the port and a fence has been
erected between the main road and the port.
 Congestion
Congestion around the port is another issue concerning rail and barge transport.
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19. Recommendations to maintain their
status for the next 10 years.
 Expansion of infrastructure such as additional refrigerated and fresh storage
facilities to pioneer solutions such as viable carriage ideas like modal shift.
 Reduces its waiting time
 Make transport in and around the port more sustainable.
Direct rail links from Antwerp to inland European destinations and work on coordinating
more efficient barge operations
 Increase border protection
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20. Recommendations to maintain their
status for the next 10 years.
 Renovate of existing infrastructure
To ensure that building standard and integrity is maintained
 Create new infrastructures within existing ports
 Create new port expansion projects
To help reduce congestion
 keep abreast of the changes in port technology
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21. Conclusion
 Even though the Port of Antwerp is has improved greatly since its initial existence,
and it has cemented its place as one of the best of its kind in the world, there are
still significant opportunities for improvement in security and the reduction of
congestion. Once the outlined recommendations are implemented, without a
doubt, the Port of Antwerp will become the best
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22. Section of the Port of Antwerp
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23. Container Terminal- Antwerp
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24. References
https://www.lloydslistintelligence.com/
About the Antwerp Port Authority, retrieved from http://www.portofantwerp.com/en/about-antwerp-port-
authority
Infrastructure, Port of Antwerp, retrieved from: http://www.portofantwerp.com/en
Merriam-Webster Inc. (1984). Merriam Webster's dictionary of synonyms: A dictionary of discriminated
synonyms with antonyms and analogous and contrasted words. Springfield: Merriam-Webster's,
Port of Antwerp growth, retrieved from
https://www.flandersinvestmentandtrade.com/invest/en/news/antwe
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