Antwerp is redeveloping its Scheldtquays in the coming years with quay 20-21 remaining the designated cruise quay, according to Igor Daems, cruise terminal manager at Antwerp Cruise Port.
The City Council is also also evaluating the current terminal and considering building a new one, as well as looking at building a new terminal in the docks so that ships over 265m in length will also have a designated quay, he explains.
This year the Belgian port is expecting a large increase in calls to 19 and about 30,000 passengers compared to seven calls and 6,894 passengers in 2009.
Scheldtquay 20-21 is on the river - no locks to be passed - and 200 metres from the medieval city centre. Vessels of 265m in length and 8.6m draught can come alongside the dedicated cruise pier. The present terminal covers an area of 1,510m2 and can handle about 1,000 passengers at any one time. One area is for luggage handling and the other a passenger lounge complete with information desk, screening facilities, security office and restrooms. There are also two border crossing points.
For larger vessels, quay 236-238 in the docks is available which is accessed by the largest lock in the world. Here there is no restriction vis a vis the length and draught is 14m. The turning basin is 300m and it is 15 minutes by taxi to the city centre. Air draught on the river is 69.4m.
