Scheldt deepening work finally begins in Holland

The long-awaited deepening of the River Scheldt on the Dutch side of the border started on 12 February. The project, which will improve ship access to the Belgian port of Antwerp, follows nearly 15 years of sometimes tense negotiations between authorities in the two countries. The treaty Development Sketch 2010 for the Scheldt Estuary signed on 21 December 2005 between the Netherlands and Flanders laid down that the navigation channel will be widened and deepened.

The project will eliminate 12 shallow spots, permitting wider tide windows. It is also expected that 14,000teu container ships with draughts of at least 15 metres will be able to sail downstream from Antwerp. Tide-independent navigation will increase from the present draught of 11.90 metres to 13.10 metres.

"In nautical terms a keel clearance of 12.5% has to be allowed on the Scheldt on the Dutch side," said Antwerp port authority. "This means that under the terms of the treaty the Scheldt will be deepened to a level of 14.70 metres at average low spring tide. The keel clearance includes a margin for the squat effect [the fact that ships under way have a greater draught], plus a safety margin for ship movements under wave action, a margin for sudden silting up between two soundings and a dredging tolerance."

The dredging is expected to be completed in 12 months.