Auteur: AIVP
Source: AG Port of Oostende
Date de parution: Mardi, 04 Octobre 2005
Type de Document: Actualité
Thème: 1.01 - projet d'aménagement portuaire, 5.02 - l'architecture à l interface ville / port
Langue originale: Anglais
Localisation: Europe : Belgique : Ostende
Langue: Français, Anglais, Espagnol

Avec un trafic de 7,5 millions de tonnes de marchandises en 2004, le port d'Ostende est en croissance constante. Cette situation impose la construction de nouvelles infrastructures. Mais outre la création in extenso de nouveaux équipements, les autorités portuaires procèdent également par la réhabilitation ou la reconversion d'installations existantes. C'est par exemple le cas de l'ancienne criée reconvertie en centre administratif à l'architecture soignée.

Oostende would like to continue to profile itself as a polyvalent port for ro-ro, container, bulk and cruises. That is why Oostende keeps on investing in its port, which will eventually lead to new port capacity and traffic.

Oostende has taken care of quite a lot of works in the port and an extensive increase of the maritime traffic these last couple of years, even to a record breaking level of 7.5 million tons of goods handled in 2004. This proves that once a purposeful infrastructure has been built, it is used functionally and efficiently.

This growth has lead to a saturation of the outer port. That is why the port endeavours to built new infrastructure.

At this moment the port is giving the finishing stroke to the construction of the ‘Wachtkaai’ at the ‘Demeylock’. This new quay will have to provide for a safe berthing place for ships when they are waiting to enter the lock. The existing jetty has been broken down and the quay wall has been straightened. At the same time a new ro-ro berth is being built on the other side of the ‘Wachtkaai’ where the current operator Transeuropa Ferries will dispose of extra capacity. The existing ro-ro pontoon will be rebuilt for double deck loading so that ships will be able to load or unload the upper and lower deck simultaneously.

The ‘Wandelaarkaai’, situated between the ‘Vismijn’ and the ‘Zeewezendock’, has been completely renovated in the mean time. The renovation made it possible to deepen the quay to 8 metres which justified the installation of an extra ro-ro pontoon at the extreme end of the quay so that an extra berth for ro-ro ships became available.

The old board-building of the fish market at the ‘Wandelaarkaai’ was rebuilt to become a state-of-the-art administrative center with the new offices of the ‘AG Vismijn Oostende’ on the ground floor and the offices of the department of Shipping Guidance of the Flemish Community on the two upper floors. A new Control Tower should enable a safer way of guiding the ships into the port.

The quays on the East Banks of the outer port slowly become available, with the departure of the navy to Zeebrugge, to create new berths and activities. Two new jetties are already built and the first space along the quay has been cleared completely. The sand and gravel company NHM will be able to deploy its activities there after the necessary rehabilitation works.

For optimal use of the port, however, it will be necessary to build a new port entrance. Plans to build new jetties have been planned for quite a while now so that ships up to 200 m can safely enter the port. This dossier should take a start within the next couple of months.

These new impulses should safeguard the growth of the outer port of Oostende, at least on short term

Source : http://www.portofoostende.be