Zeebrugge (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Dirk De Fauw, vice-chairman of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, is in Japan with port leaders to discuss a “car tower” project for Zeebrugge, addressing rising car import demands and parking shortages.
Dirk De Fauw, vice-chairman of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, is visiting Japan with a group of port leaders and car importers. They are meeting with shipping companies that bring new cars to Zeebrugge, as the demand for vehicles to be shipped to this port is rising.
According to officials, Zeebrugge is becoming an important place for car imports and exports. The group is looking for ways to handle the increasing number of cars coming in. They mentioned that one major problem is not having enough space to park all the cars. They need to find new storage solutions.
“So we are discussing here what the possibility is of building a kind of car tower in Zeebrugge. That is a kind of warehouse where cars can be stored. Otherwise, we do not have enough land to park all those vehicles, ”
De Fauw said.
Is the “Car Tower” project in Zeebrugge the solution for rising vehicle imports?
The group is planning to build a “car tower” in Zeebrugge to solve the parking issue. According to officials, this tower would store cars on different levels, saving space. They mentioned that it would help the port manage more cars without needing large parking lots. The team is discussing how to make this project work while in Japan. They want to look at the costs and how to partner with shipping companies to bring this idea to life.
The plans for the car tower in Zeebrugge are moving ahead. Dirk De Fauw said the ICO board will soon decide on Tokyo. Most of the early work is done, but they still need an environmental permit to start building. Officials mentioned that the port authority had approved the project and set aside land for it. An environmental impact report is ready, so all the necessary documents are prepared for submission.
According to the officials, if the environmental permit is approved soon, construction on the car tower could start this year. This project will help the port handle more cars coming into Zeebrugge.
They mentioned that by using a tall storage system, the port can save space and meet the needs of car importers. De Fauw said the decision from the ICO board in Tokyo will be an important step for the project, helping make Zeebrugge a leader in vehicle logistics.
“If the environmental permit is approved without any problems, it should be possible to start construction this year,”
De Fauw concludes.
