Berendrecht Lock

Geschiedenis

The Berendrecht Lock is the world's second largest lock, giving access to the right-bank docks of the Port of Antwerp in Belgium.BackgroundPost World War II, work started on the Grote Doorsteek, an ambitious plan which ultimately resulted in the extension of the Antwerp docks on the right bank of the Scheldt to the Netherlands border. In 1967, the company completed the construction of the Zandvliet Lock (Zandvlietsluis), then the world's largest lock.ConstructionIn 1989, needing to accommodate wider Post-Panamax ship, the company built a new lock just to the south of the Zandvliet lock. The Berendrecht Lock, which at, is wider. Bascule bridges at the ends of each lock, (Zandvliet and Frederik-Hendrik bridges across the Zandlievet lock; and Oudendijk and Berendrecht bridges across the Berendrecht lock), allow full road traffic access around the port. The two locks now work as a doubled lock system.Completion of the Berendrecht Lock allowed the extended development of the right bank docks complex, and later the creation of fast turnround tidal berths, both on the right bank (Europa Terminal and the North Sea Terminal), and on the left bank (Deurganck Dock).DimensionsThe dimensions of the Berendrecht Lock are as follows: Length: Width: Operational Depth : Sill depth at mean high water: No. Lock Gates: four, sliding lock gates On both length and total volume, the Berendrecht Lock is the second largest in the world.