Berendrecht Lock
The Berendrecht Lock is the world's largest lock, giving access to the right-bank docks of the Port of Antwerp in Belgium.
Contents
Background
Post World War II, work started on the Grote Doorsteek, an ambitious plan which ultimately resulted in the extension of the Antwerp docks on the right bank of the Scheldt to the Netherlands border. In 1967, the company completed the construction of the Zandvliet Lock (Zandvlietsluis), then the world's largest lock at:
- Length: 500 metres (1,600 ft)
- Width: 57 metres (187 ft)
- Operational Depth (TAW): 13.58 metres (44.6 ft)
- Sill depth at mean high water: 17.75 metres (58.2 ft)
Construction
In 1989, needing to accommodate wider Post-Panamax ship, the company built a new lock just to the south of the Zandvliet lock. The Berendrecht Lock, which at 68 metres (223 ft), is 11 metres (36 ft) wider. Bascule bridges at the ends of each lock, (Zandvliet and Frederik-Hendrik bridges across the Zandlievet lock; and Oudendijk and Berendrecht bridges across the Berendrecht lock), allow full road traffic access around the port.[1] The two locks now work as a doubled lock system.
Completion of the Berendrecht Lock allowed the extended development of the right bank docks complex, and later the creation of fast turnround tidal berths, both on the right bank (Europa Terminal and the North Sea Terminal), and on the left bank (Deurganck Dock).[2]
Dimensions
The dimensions of the Berendrecht Lock are as follows:
- Length: 500 metres (1,600 ft)
- Width: 68 metres (223 ft)
- Operational Depth (TAW): 13.5 metres (44 ft)
- Sill depth at mean high water: 17.75 metres (58.2 ft)
- No. Lock Gates: four, sliding lock gates
On both length and total volume (length x breadth x the difference in water levels), the Berendrecht Lock is the largest in the world
New leftbank lock
In November 2011, work started on the Kieldrecht Lock that will become the world's new largest lock on the left bank of the Scheldt. It is scheduled to be completed in 2016. Based on the design of the Berendrecht Lock, it has the same length and width, but with an operational depth (TAW) of 17.8 metres (58 ft), which will make it the world's largest lock. The new lock will be at the end of the Deurganck dock, to provide the Leftbank docks access to the sea between the Scheldt and the Waasland Canal. To construct the lock, 9.1 million m³ of earth will be excavated, and 22,000 tonnes of structural steel, three times the amount required to build the Eiffel Tower. Costing €340 million, of which 50% will be financed by the European Investment Bank, the Flemish KBC Bank is also making available a €81 million credit line, with the balance provided by the Antwerp Port Authority and the Flemish Government.[3]
New Panama Canal
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In July 2009, it was announced that the Belgian dredging company Jan De Nul,[4] together with a consortium of contractors consisting of the Spanish Sacyr Vallehermoso, the Italian Impregilo and the Panamanian company Grupo Cusa, had been awarded the contract to build the six new locks on the enlarged Panama Canal to accommodate larger Post-Panamax vessels. The design of the locks is similar to the Berendrecht Lock, but with a width of 55 m.
See also
- Louis Joubert Lock, Saint-Nazaire, France: Europe's largest dry dock
References
External links
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