Port of Ghent

The port of Ghent is the third biggest port in Belgium. The first port of Ghent was situated at the Scheldt river and later on at the Lys river. Since the Middle Ages Ghent has sought for a connection to the sea. In the 13th century via the Lieve canal to the Zwin near Damme, in the 16th century via the Sassevaart, in the 17th century via the Ghent-Bruges Canal. Since the 19th century by the Ghent-Terneuzen Canal which connects via the Western Scheldt to the North Sea [cite web|url=http://www.havengent.be/10_i_1ov.htm#13|title=History of the port of Ghent|accessdate=2006-03-03] . The port of Ghent is accessible by ships of the Panamax size. There are however talks to renew the locks in Terneuzen, which would enable bigger ships to enter the harbour.

History

In 1251, the Lieve Canal was constructed in order to attempt to connect Ghent to Damme, which was at that time was situated at the Zwin. However, the Zwin sanded up and the Lieve canal no longer had any importance by the end of the fifteenth century. In 1547, a second attempt was made by digging the Sassevaart (Sasse Canal), which became a busy trade route. In the sixteenth century however, the Wars of Religion meant the end of navigation on the Sassevaart. This due to a traffic lock on both Western Scheldt and all other connecting waterways set by the Dutch.In the 17th century, a new attempt was made with the Ghent-Bruges-Ostend canal. But as a consequence of the abolition of the former trade privileges there was but little activity.The present canal(Canal Ghent-Terneuzen) was finally dug under the rule of William I, King of the Netherlands. In 1822 the final plan was ratified and in 1827 the works could be started. As waterborne traffic and port activities increased, the sea canal was extended several times:

* 1880 - 1881: digging of the "Voorhaven" and "Houtdok"
* 1900 - 1930: digging of the "Grootdok" with the "Noord-", "Midden-" and "Zuiddok"
* 1931: digging of the "Schepen Sifferdok"

The works on the "Sifferdok" were complicated by the crisis of the thirties and by World Wars I and II. A revival was practically impossible as the dimensions of the lock were insufficient for the modern post-war seagoing vessels. In 1960 an agreement was signed between Belgium and the Netherlands, which stipulated that a new sealock was to be built and that the Canal was to be adapted for vessels up to DWT|80,000|metric|first=yes.

* 1961 - 1968: lengthening of the "Sifferdok"
* 1966 - 1968: digging of the "Petroleumdok"
* 1968: inauguration of the new sealock
* 1970 - 1971/1975 - 1978: digging of the "Rodenhuizedok"
* 1996 - today: digging of the "Kluizendok"

With the digging of the "Kluizendok" a new era is dawning for Ghent. The first phase of the works ends in the autumn of 1999. From that moment onwards the first 1,200m of quay wall and waterfront sites behind them will be available. The "Kluizendok" will enable quite some expansion of the port.

ee also

* Ghent Bio-Energy Valley

References

External links

*cite web|url=http://www.portofghent.be/|title=Official website|accessdate=2006-03-03