DP World starts expansion in Port of Antwerp-Bruges
Emirati multinational logistics company, Dubai Ports World (DP World), inaugurated a new and energy-efficient head office at Flanders Deurganck dock in the port of Antwerp on Friday. In addition, a completely new container lift infrastructure has been put into use. A world’s first, as described by DP World.
The port alderman of the City of Antwerp Annick De Ridder and mayor Bart De Wever were both present during the inauguration. “The first day of the unified port is equally epic for DP World,” says De Ridder. “This innovation benefits the safety of those who keep the economic engine of Flanders running, meaning our port employees.”
The state-owned Dubai-based company is one of the largest container terminal operators worldwide. In 2019, DP World already started building a new head office and better infrastructure for the container lifts. “As you can see, the terminal is overcrowded,” explains CEO DP World Antwerp Gateway, Dirk van den Bosch. ”That’s why this sustainable capacity expansion was vital. In ten years’ time we will emit 50 percent fewer emissions and by 2050 we want to be completely neutral.”
The CEO wants to invest around 200 million euros to expand the capacity of the Antwerp Gateway terminal by almost a third by 2026. “With these achievements, we are consolidating the anchoring of DP World in the port of Antwerp,” van den Bosch continues. “This is the first phase of our investment plan. By focusing on automation, we are creating the required additional container capacity and compacting the available space.”
(AS)
©Belga Photo - Jonas Roosens