Antwerp building "world’s largest lock"

Belgium is building the world's largest lock in order to process the latest generation of giant ships following Europe's new trade deals, reported Reuters.

Like Panama, Antwerp is seeking to accommodate post-Panamax sized carriers, ships that can carry almost three times the current number of cargo containers.

With three times as much steel as the Eiffel Tower, 500 metres long and 68 metres wide, the lock will be one of the gates to the port and is costing up to USD456 million.

Construction set underway last year, with completion and commencement of operations slated for 2016.

According to Cargonews Asia, in 2012 Antwerp port handled 1.6 per cent fewer goods than in 2011, reflecting the EU's economic downturn, and suffered with the steep drop in global trade in 2008-09.

But the goal is to increase volumes by 20 million tonnes in the long term and take the port's overall cargo levels to above 200 million tonnes a year, still half Rotterdam's current levels.

Source: Cargonews Asia

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