New terminal building and shore power for cruises in Zeebrugge
22/01/2025 | by Cruise Europe Press
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The Antwerp-Bruges Port Authority is going to modernise the Swedish Quay in Zeebrugge. This €40 to 50 million plan will include the installation of shore power facilities and fits in with the port’s ambition to be climate-neutral by 2050.
The first step in this development is to provide shore power (with work starting in the fall of 2025) and hence allow ships to switch to green electricity provided from the high-voltage grid at the quay. Eliminating the need for ships to run their diesel generators will reduce emissions of CO2 and particulate matter by 98% and 95% respectively, states the port authority.
The Port of Antwerp-Bruges plans to have installed shore power facilities in Zeebrugge by 2027, which is three years before the European regulation requirement to do so. The Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility is providing a European grant of €3.2 million for these facilities.
In addition, investment is being made into new infrastructure to handle cruiseships. This includes a new carbon neutral, modular and more spacious terminal building.
The existing ABC building/terminal, which was put into use in 2018, is no longer ideally fit for purpose due to the increase in cruise business at the port. This has put pressure on the operational cost structure: more shuttle buses, more crane movements to adapt the gangways to the tide and more deployment of security personnel.
With a new cruise building on the Swedish Quay, right next to the ship, there is no longer any need for port shuttle buses (to and from the terminal) or cranes, and the security cost can also be significantly reduced. Three new passenger boarding bridges, which adjust to tide differences and provide weather protection, will be connected to an elevated walkway ensuring passengers and cargo are kept separate while at the same time optimising the passenger flow and experience. The new terminal should be operational by 2031.
Rob Smeets, coo, Port of Antwerp-Bruges, comments: "This project is all about preparing our port for the future. Our mission is clear: the port of Zeebrugge must not only be an economic engine, but also a pioneer in sustainability and efficiency.
“The master plan for the Swedish Quay does not focus on increasing capacity, but on improving efficiency and minimising impact on the environment. The planned infrastructure improvements are designed to optimise passenger flows and reduce inconvenience to local residents, contributing to a more sustainable and pleasant port environment.”
The new terminal building and redevelopment of the quay area also aims at improving connectivity with the hinterland.
A large ground transportation area adjacent to the new terminal building will allow smooth passenger transport by bus, taxi or shared bikes. The port’s master plan also transforms a stretch of the current quay into green space that is being ‘given back’ to the surrounding area.
An old railway line is also being re-purposed with hiking and biking trails. Quality of life for the surrounding area is high on the agenda in the elaboration of the plan, states the port authority. At the same time, with an attractive connection to the residential area around the ‘Rederskaai’ marina, the project aims to make Zeebrugge itself more attractive to cruise passengers in order to stimulate local businesses.
Dirk De fauw, mayor of Bruges and vice chairman of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges board of directors, adds: "This master plan marks the beginning of an important new chapter for the port of Zeebrugge and the city of Bruges. The interests of local residents were actively considered in the development of the plan.”
In 2024 there were 187 calls to Zeebrugge, bringing 557,000 passengers, which represents 4.1% of all visitors to Bruges (5.7% of all day tourists or 11.7% of all international day tourists in Bruges).
The first step in this development is to provide shore power (with work starting in the fall of 2025) and hence allow ships to switch to green electricity provided from the high-voltage grid at the quay. Eliminating the need for ships to run their diesel generators will reduce emissions of CO2 and particulate matter by 98% and 95% respectively, states the port authority.
The Port of Antwerp-Bruges plans to have installed shore power facilities in Zeebrugge by 2027, which is three years before the European regulation requirement to do so. The Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility is providing a European grant of €3.2 million for these facilities.
In addition, investment is being made into new infrastructure to handle cruiseships. This includes a new carbon neutral, modular and more spacious terminal building.
The existing ABC building/terminal, which was put into use in 2018, is no longer ideally fit for purpose due to the increase in cruise business at the port. This has put pressure on the operational cost structure: more shuttle buses, more crane movements to adapt the gangways to the tide and more deployment of security personnel.
With a new cruise building on the Swedish Quay, right next to the ship, there is no longer any need for port shuttle buses (to and from the terminal) or cranes, and the security cost can also be significantly reduced. Three new passenger boarding bridges, which adjust to tide differences and provide weather protection, will be connected to an elevated walkway ensuring passengers and cargo are kept separate while at the same time optimising the passenger flow and experience. The new terminal should be operational by 2031.
Rob Smeets, coo, Port of Antwerp-Bruges, comments: "This project is all about preparing our port for the future. Our mission is clear: the port of Zeebrugge must not only be an economic engine, but also a pioneer in sustainability and efficiency.
“The master plan for the Swedish Quay does not focus on increasing capacity, but on improving efficiency and minimising impact on the environment. The planned infrastructure improvements are designed to optimise passenger flows and reduce inconvenience to local residents, contributing to a more sustainable and pleasant port environment.”
The new terminal building and redevelopment of the quay area also aims at improving connectivity with the hinterland.
A large ground transportation area adjacent to the new terminal building will allow smooth passenger transport by bus, taxi or shared bikes. The port’s master plan also transforms a stretch of the current quay into green space that is being ‘given back’ to the surrounding area.
An old railway line is also being re-purposed with hiking and biking trails. Quality of life for the surrounding area is high on the agenda in the elaboration of the plan, states the port authority. At the same time, with an attractive connection to the residential area around the ‘Rederskaai’ marina, the project aims to make Zeebrugge itself more attractive to cruise passengers in order to stimulate local businesses.
Dirk De fauw, mayor of Bruges and vice chairman of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges board of directors, adds: "This master plan marks the beginning of an important new chapter for the port of Zeebrugge and the city of Bruges. The interests of local residents were actively considered in the development of the plan.”
In 2024 there were 187 calls to Zeebrugge, bringing 557,000 passengers, which represents 4.1% of all visitors to Bruges (5.7% of all day tourists or 11.7% of all international day tourists in Bruges).
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