Shipping

The Scheldt is one of the busiest rivers in Europe. The river and its estuary are internationally important for both sea navigation (up to the Port of Antwerp) and inland navigation. Recreational navigation on the Scheldt is also significant. The major driving force behind shipping in the estuary is the industrial areas and the large Scheldt ports of Antwerp, Gent, Vlissingen, and Terneuzen. Every year, tens of thousands of ships of various types visit these ports. Additionally, the Ghent-Terneuzen Canal is very important as it connects the Western Scheldt with the port of Gent.

To ensure even better accessibility and connectivity with the rest of Europe, work is currently underway in Flanders on the Seine-Scheldt connection. This will allow ships to reach the Scheldt from the south as well. With the ‘Seine Scheldt Flanders’ project, which is part of a cross-border inland navigation project and is subsidized by the European Union, De Vlaamse Waterweg aims to strengthen the waterways network to provide a full-fledged alternative to road transport. Due to its reliability, sustainability, and low financial burden, water transport offers a valued solution to the increasing traffic congestion on our roads. According to De Vlaamse Waterweg, a 4,500-ton ship could potentially remove up to 220 trucks from the road.

The vast majority of research in the Netherlands and in Flanders concerning navigation on the Scheldt is directly policy-supportive. For instance, studies are conducted to support nautical management or preparatory studies for the development of the ports.

The website ‘[www.vts-scheldt.net](https://www.vts-scheldt.net)’ guides you through the world of shipping in the Scheldt region. It provides information on, among other things, radar systems and ship traffic guidance, legislation, and procedures. The Schelde Radar Chain (SRK) is responsible for real-time monitoring of shipping traffic and operates through a series of traffic centers and radar stations located throughout the entire Scheldt area. It supports the Vessel Traffic Services (VTS), a ship traffic management system, and is managed by both the Flemish and Dutch governments. Additionally, the Joint Nautical Authority (GNA) is responsible for everything related to traffic management in the area, including the admission policy that considers tides and the draft of the ships.