Economic importance of the Flemish maritime ports: Report 2002

• Following two good years for the labour market, employment related to the metal-working industrystagnated (- 0.8 p.c.) and now stands at 675 FTE. Despite the good results, this sector – includingMotogroup and Seapane –cut a number of jobs;• Following a poor 2001, employment in road transport advanced by 2.9 p.c. to 616 FTE. A slight increasein employment was recorded at D.D. Trans, Macotruck and Vandamme Madoe;• The loss of jobs in the fishing sector was confirmed (- 12.1 p.c.), with employment falling back to430 FTE. Most of the small businesses in the sector have reduced their workforce, especially Seagull.Employment Top 10 at the port of Zeebrugge in 2002Electrabel and SNCB now feature on this list: Electrabel is a business established in more than one location andSNCB is now considered to be part of the other services sector. The navy is the port's largest employer, whichexplains why it also heads the list in terms of VA.TABLE 37 EMPLOYMENT TOP 10 AT THE PORT OF ZEEBRUGGE IN 2002(FTE)Ranking Company name Sector Employment1 NAVY (DEFENCE ACTIVITIES) Public sector 1,9072 PHILIPS INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES Electronics 5953 SEA-RO TERMINAL * Cargo handlers 4934 BELGIAN NEW FRUIT WHARF * Cargo handlers 3865 PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION Public sector 3376 PIETERS VISBEDRIJF Other services 3367 ELECTRABEL Energy 2348 SNCB – NMBS Other services 2339 D.D. TRANS Road transport 21910 ONDERNEMINGEN JAN DE NUL - ENTREPRISES JAN DE NUL Other industries 202Total 4,942Source: NBB.* The employment of dockers was distributed among companies in the cargo handling sector.62 NBB WORKING PAPER No.56 - JUNE 2004