At Terneuzen we are currently working intensively on the development of the Axelse Vlakte. A total of 70 hectares is available here for quay-related activities.

 

Project description

One of the current projects to make this an ideal location to set up business, with fully multimodal connections, is the extension to the Autrichehaven to enable access for ships with a draught of 12.50 metres. The extension is a major expansion of the quay facility along the Ghent-Terneuzen Canal and a new step towards the development of Biopark Terneuzen, a concept whereby businesses are brought together which can make use of each other’ residual products (see also www.bioparkterneuzen.com).

 

Activities

The original harbour (phase 1) dates from 1998 and has a length of 225 metres. With the completion of phases 2 and 3, the quay wall in the harbour has been extended by 630 metres to a length of 855 metres. Zeeland Seaports is responsible for the infrastructure with the harbour construction, such as building the quay and deepening the harbour. A traditional construction has been chosen for the quay wall in the form of an anchored combi-wall. This is a wall of tubular piles with a diameter of 1.22 m, with two sheetpile strips between them. About 250 tubular piles varying from 22 to 31 metres in length and 250 double sheetpile strips 8 to 18 metres long have been used and the quay wall itself has already been completed. During the work a start was also made on a new dam, which was completed at the same time as the quay wall.

 

Following this, a start was made on dredging the new harbour. This is being done in two phases. The first phase concerns a section of 450 metres long and 70 metres wide to a depth of N.A.P. - 9 metres . During this phase a total of 500,000m3 will be dredged and removed to the Westerschelde. The first phase has now been completed by Martens en Van Oord and the last phase is in progress. Dredging firm De Boer began in September 2010 with dredging approx. 520,000 m3 and removing the dredging material to the Westerschelde. The entire port will be at the required depth (N.A.P. -11.00 metres) by mid-2011.

 

Infrastructure

As well as access from the sea, the Axelse Vlakte has good hinterland connections by road and rail. Via Tractaatweg the Axelse Vlakte can be reached via Finlandweg and Autrichehavenweg. A railway line runs parallel to Finlandweg and is connected to the railway yard at Terneuzen. From this railway yard there is a direct link to line 55 to Ghent via the Sluiskil Bridge along the west side of the canal. With respect to underground infrastructure, there is a fibre optic network of KPN on the Axelse Vlakte industrial zone. Other services such as water and electricity are also present.