Port Authority Zeebrugge has revealed that the total volume of cargo handled at the Port of Zeebrugge in Belgium increased by 7.3 per cent during 2007, up to 42.3m tonnes. Container traffic growth jumped 24 per cent to hit 2.05m TEUs.
2007 saw the expansion of the port's range of Maersk Line services at the Albert II dock, while CMA CGM, China Shipping Container Line (CSCL), Evergreen and the New World Alliance all expanded their Europe-Asia capacities.
The Port Authority pointed to the maiden callings of 13,500 TEU Maersk vessels Elly and Edith during the period as evidence that the maritime access must be further widened and deepened to maintain its position as a deepwater container port.
Additionally, 3 August saw the first call of the new weekly FAL4/AEX8 container service between China and northern Europe at the port. Zeebrugge figures as the first port of call in Europe for the service, which represents a collaboration between CMA CGM and CSCL.
