Port of Antwerp-Bruges Kicks-off Construction of New Coordination Center

Dec. 23, 2024 - The Port of Antwerp-Bruges on Dec. 16 officially kicked-off construction of the Antwerp Coordination Center (ACC) at Zandvliet-Berendrecht Lock. This state-of-the-art coordination centre brings together all partners from the nautical chain and optimises the port activities.

The new ACC will be a recognisable orientation point along the river Scheldt. This eight-story building, covering an area of 8,000 m² and 46 metres tall, is being built between Zandvliet Lock and Berendrecht Lock. It will replace the current coordination centre, which was built in the 70s. With a flexible and modular structure that can respond to changes in the future, it will be a central hub where teams such as shipping guidance, lock operators, pilotage and boatmen work closely together.

According to the Port, communal workplace covering 1,000 m² will optimise the communication and coordination within the nautical chain, essential for safe and smooth shipping traffic. The figures underline its importance: in 2023, the port registered 274,132 ship movements, averaging 761 a day or 31 an hour. The ACC plays a pivotal role in managing this flow.

"The Antwerp Coordination Center is not just an operational hub but also a symbol of innovation and sustainability,” said Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO of Port of Antwerp-Bruges. “By combining and facilitating technology and collaboration, we strengthen the functioning of our port and contribute to a future where people and nature take center stage."

Sustainability as a Starting Point

The Antwerp Coordination Center sets a new standard in sustainability. The building is entirely energy neutral thanks to the use of ground energy, a sustainable system that takes heat and cold from the earth, and supplementary energy from solar panels. Thanks to efficient energy savings and its innovative use of technology the ACC requires no fossil fuels and has zero CO2 emissions.

The ACC project has been commissioned by Port of Antwerp-Bruges and Maritime and Coastal Services (MDK), and is being realised by KAAN Architecten, SVR-ARCHITECTS, contractor Van Roey, Van Roey Services and engineering firms Sweco/Blasco.

Construction of the ACC is planned in different phases. The centre will be operational at the end of 2026, after which the present building will be demolished and the surrounding area redesigned.

SOURCE: Port of Antwerp-Bruges