Handling and Transshipment Company DD Shipping, situated along the Brussels-Scheldt Sea Canal in Puurs, has invested approximately 2 million euros in an additional 200-meter quay and a new transshipment crane. This enhanced capacity is intended to serve as an alternative solution during the ongoing Oosterweel construction works.
DD Shipping, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Gent-based construction-related Square Group, has operated a terminal for dry bulk transshipment along the Brussels-Scheldt Sea Canal in Puurs since 2007. This terminal spans an area of 136,000 square meters and handles around 2.5 million tons annually. With the terminal approaching its capacity limit, investments were made in an extra 200-meter quay and a new hydraulic Sennebogen transshipment crane, amounting to an investment of approximately 2 million euros. The quay and crane were officially inaugurated today, in the presence of Chris Danckaerts, CEO of De Vlaamse Waterweg.
"The quay was realized through the PPS quay wall program (by the Flemish government, where companies collaborate with Flanders to build quay walls, ed.). De Vlaamse Waterweg subsidizes 80% of the quay. Altogether, we now have 500 meters of quay with a depth of 9 meters. We can accommodate coasters up to 10,000 tons. With the new crane and quay, our capacity increases by 1 million tons to 3.5 million tons. The crawler crane (pictured) has a reach of 25 meters and weighs 125 tons. It is equipped with a diesel engine with power recovery, making it more fuel-efficient. It can handle up to 770 tons per hour," explains Director Geert Keeris. The terminal also boasts two small mobile cranes and a large electric E-Crane on rails with a lifting capacity of 10 tons.
Dry Bulk
"We primarily handle dry bulk such as construction-related products, peat, bark, lava, and earthmoving. We also handle breakbulk like steel wire and coils. Each year, we receive about a hundred coasters and around four hundred inland vessels. The coasters originate from Spain, Portugal, France, the Baltic States, and St. Petersburg, Russia. They mainly come here for unloading. Inland vessels both load and unload," says Keeris.
Alternative for Oosterweel
"The coasters arriving here take only ten hours to travel from the sea pilot stations, De Wandelaar or De Steenbank, to here. They encounter only the Wintam lock along the entire route. Our strategic location is a card we intend to play in the future. We are looking at the Oosterweel works that will further complicate road transport to and from Antwerp. Add to that the works on the Brussels Ring planned for 2022. With our added capacity, we can offer an alternative," concludes Keeris. DD Shipping also operates a second terminal along the Brussels-Scheldt Sea Canal in Grimbergen. Established in 1989, it also handles dry bulk, spanning an area of 55,000 square meters and featuring a 250-meter quay. The depth is 5.80 meters, making the terminal accessible to ships up to 4,000 tons. The two terminals together employ around fifteen permanent workers, supplemented by external staff from partner companies.
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