Safety

The enormous mass of water that daily moves from the sea through the tidal part of the Scheldt and the resulting flooding risk for the low-lying adjacent areas pose a threat to the safety and business activities of the population. Additionally, the discharge of rainwater via the rivers can also cause problems when there is a large amount of precipitation in a short period. Due to climate change, sea levels are rising, and extreme weather conditions will occur more frequently, increasing the risk of flooding in the future.

To provide the necessary protection, storm surge barriers have been established and levees have been built, raised, reinforced, or relocated at strategic locations, and flood areas have been created. The two main projects that should be mentioned in this context are the Dutch Delta Program and its Flemish counterpart, the Sigma Plan. The Delta Program focuses on protecting the Dutch delta from flooding and strengthening freshwater supply, while the Sigma Plan aims to improve water safety and restore natural values in Flanders. Both projects take into account other important factors within the Scheldt catchment area (natural values, recreation, and economy) while ensuring safety. Both in the context of these projects and other protective measures, considerable research is conducted on safety in and around the Scheldt estuary.

An important aspect of this research concerns the study of controlled flood areas (CFA) and controlled flood areas with reduced tide. These areas not only serve as protection against flooding but also contribute to increasing the natural value of the area by creating new habitats and promoting biodiversity.

Since the Scheldt is a heavily navigated river, shipping traffic must also be managed safely. The Permanent Commission for the Supervision of Scheldt Navigation is responsible for this. Buoys marking the shipping channel, continuous monitoring of shipping traffic with radar posts and traffic centers, and a ship traffic management system must ensure smooth operations. More information is provided under the theme of shipping. In the case of large ships, a pilot may sometimes come on board to advise the captain. The commission’s policies are supported by research into safety risks.