Maritime accessibility in North Sea Port is about to take another qualitative leap, because after the successful commissioning of the New Terneuzen Lock, the focus is now on the Ghent-Terneuzen Canal. By the end of this year, the first test operations with commercial vessels of 38 meters in length will begin in the canal.
These tests, in which the ships will transport cargo for unloading at a dock, represent the next phase in the optimization of the route. Currently, conversations are being held with all interested parties in the Netherlands and Flanders to coordinate this step.
The opening of the New Lock in Terneuzen is only the beginning of further economic development in the cross-border port area. The port authority has expressed its great interest in the construction, in the near future, of a deeper channel with a draft of 14.5 to 15 meters up to the bulk loading port of Terneuzen. This section is located about two kilometers from the lock, and the dredging works are technically feasible in the short term.
This improvement would allow transoceanic vessels to dock more safely and economically without the need to use barges in the Western Scheldt to cross the New Lock. Furthermore, North Sea Port expects vessels of up to 43 meters in length to sail to the Kluizendok and Rodenhuizedok in Ghent subsequently, which would translate into savings of several hundred thousand dollars for the transport of dry or liquid bulk.
This milestone in future planning occurs on the one-year anniversary of the official inauguration, led by King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and His Majesty Filip of Belgium.
Built on the order of the Flemish Scheldt Committee (VNSC), the New Lock is the second maritime lock of the complex. Located next to the West Lock, it allows NSP to guarantee permanent access from the sea to the port area, as it provides an alternative during the maintenance of the other lock.
The complex has already generated new economic activities and employment in the Flanders-Zeeland and Flanders regions. In addition to securing navigation, the structure is crucial for flood defense and water management of the region, and is part of the main access routes for road traffic. The initial tests in the New Lock were carried out in May 2025, allowing it to enter service safely and efficiently on August 1.
