The dry summer has cost businesses in the North Sea Port millions of euros, CEO Cas König has said. At the height of the crisis, one of the two sea locks in Terneuzen was completely closed, while the other could only be used for four hours at high tide. At one point, some companies also opted to transport their cargo by lorry rather than by ship.
This had an immediate impact on the entire maritime supply chain in Ghent and Terneuzen, both of which are downstream of the locks. Ships found it more difficult to enter or leave the port and were forced to remain moored for longer. They had to wait for the lock; then, as soon as the lock reopened, there was a rush for pilots, tugs and mooring crews.
At the deepest point, the draught, the permitted depth of a vessel below the water line, was approximately 25cm lower than in normal conditions. That meant ships had to carry lighter loads or wait longer. Due to the persistent drought, some companies switched to lorries to transport their goods.
We cannot wait and see how things go next year. We must take action
The restrictions were not only necessary for shipping. According to König, an excessively low water level can also pose risks to quays, bridges and other infrastructure.
The impact can quickly mount for businesses. “If the whole supply chain grinds to a halt, you have to be careful that their production process doesn’t come to a standstill as well,” König said. Waiting ships incur fees if they have to remain moored for longer than anticipated.
“We don’t know exactly what the financial impact is for businesses, but it certainly runs into millions,” says König.
The port’s management expects such situations to occur more frequently and wants to accelerate its climate adaptation efforts, with the relevant authorities and businesses, by implementing technical and organisational measures to tackle both drought and extreme rainfall.
The port is home to major industrial employers and production sites that depend on the smooth flow of goods in and out via the canal. Problems with water levels and draught directly affect the economic strength of Ghent’s industry.
“The situation cannot remain as it is,” says König. “We cannot wait and see how things go next year. We must take action.”