Circular City Ports - Workbook 1, Circular initiatives in the Delta

City-port context of Antwerp
‘Inland’ mainport - from expansion to intensifying
and connecting (new) circular cityport area’s?
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1 Description of location in relation to other
(sea/) ports
Antwerp is the second largest seaport in the Delta
and the main economic driver in Belgium. Located
along the Scheldt river, it functions as a hinge towards
the port of Brussels and the Ruhr area via the
Albert canal and train.
2 Description of current activities
The port of Antwerp has large industrial activity
counting for over 50% of the added value. This mainly
because of its large petrochemical cluster, the
biggest integrated cluster in Europe. Furthermore, a
large activity around logistics is present, with a big
proportion for container, due to its good connection
via rail and central position in Europe.
The share of containers in the total transport flow
through the port shows a strong increase; the share
was 34% in 2000 and 54% in 2014. This was mainly
at the expense of the share of conventional general
cargo. In 2009, very large container ships, with a capacity
of more than 14,000 TEUs, called at the port.
Antwerp has thus strengthened its market position
and was the second container port in Europe, after
Rotterdam. Transport between the port and hinterland
is mostly by road, but the importance of inland
shipping is increasing. In 2009, almost 35% of all
freight was transported by inland vessels.
In May 2011, a rail service was announced between
the port of Antwerp and the Chinese city of
Chongqing. With 32 million inhabitants, Chongqing
is the largest city in the world, located some 1,500
kilometres west of Shanghai. The rail link runs from
Antwerp via Germany and Poland to Ukraine, Russia,
Mongolia and China. The distance from start to finish
is around 10,000 kilometres, making it the longest
train service in the world. Only freight is transported,
in particular containers. The idea of this service
between the two cities was made during a business
trip that the Antwerp Port Authority and partners organized
to China in 2010. The train journey will take
approximately 22 days; cargo that is transported by
ship takes about twice as long
3 Description demographic/socio-economic
dynamics.
Antwerp knows a strong demographic growth
with strong socio-economic challenges. Similar to
Brussels (or Rotterdam or Amsterdam), Antwerp is
characterized by a young, multicultural and multi-
lingual population. In the recent years, the water development
of het Eilandje (and the Cadix) has provided
attractive housing for the young and working
generation. Furthermore, Antwerp, the ‘City Along
the Stream’ is known for its fashion industry and diamond
trade.
4 Why, and in what way is circularity looked at?
The leading incentive for the Port of Antwerp to look
at circularity is due for its BigChem and leading actors
in metal recycling like Umicore. They look at
stimulating innovation, research and development
and collaboration through industrial symbiosis or
energy exchange.
5 Who gives substance to this, which partnerships/programmes/initiatives
are made?
Antwerp Port Authority implied a commission for
a Roadmap for Circular Economy in 2017. Here the
main focus lies on improving logistical functioning
and the high-tech recycling of plastics and metals.
Herein, the study has collaborated with leading
companies (multinational) around possible pilots.
Moreover, AG Vespa is functioning as area manager,
involved, together with the port authority in
BlueGate and the Innovative City Harbour.
Furthermore, a research study has been developed
toward the better understand of Circular Economy,
“Stad van Stromen”, as the result of a collaboration
between the Flemish Building master, Flemish spatial
department, OVAM, City of Antwerp and Port of
Antwerp. Another interesting dynamic is happening
around Circular Fashion, leading to a broad coalition
like Stadslab2050, designer, fashion brands also
funded by the Flemish Circular program.
6 Is there already a discourse around cityports?
(Yes/no) Who is behind it and what are the ambitions/motives?
Yes, Kanaalkant, where the focus lies on attracting
waterborne logistical activities and defining projects
around synergies between housing and industry.
Moreover, BlueGate and the Innovative City Harbour,
where AG Vespa operates as an area manager and in
the first place looks for innovative practices and companies.
In both areas there are waterborne logistical
functioning/programming in relation to the city or the
hinterland (CityDepot in BlueGate). This is a precarious
balance as logistics asks for large surfaces and
the value of the land is high.