Port of Zeebrugge
Bruges and the port area of Bruges-Zeebrugge (pink)
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Location
Country	Belgium
Location	Bruges, Flanders
Coordinates	51°17′35″N 3°12′35″E / 51.29306°N 3.20972°E / 51.29306; 3.20972
UN/LOCODE	BEZEE[1]
Statistics
Annual cargo tonnage	over 50 million tonnes (2012)[2]
Website www.zeebruggeport.be

The Port of Zeebrugge (also referred to as the Port of Bruges or Bruges Seaport) is a large container, bulk cargo, new vehicles and passenger ferry terminal port on the North Sea. The port is located in the municipality of Bruges, West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium, handling over 50 million tonnes of cargo annually.^[3]

The port of Zeebrugge is managed by the port authority MBZ (Maatschappij van de Brugse Zeehaven - translated: 'Company of the Bruges Seaport'), an autonomous company regulated by public law, the city of Bruges being the main shareholder.

History

Zeebrugge is a multifaceted port that handles a wide range of trades: unit loads (trailers and containers), new cars, conventional general cargo, 'high & heavy' cargoes, dry and liquid bulk cargoes and natural gas. From a purely transit port Zeebrugge has gradually evolved into a centre for European distribution.

The port has become a major European port since major development works were carried in the 1972 to 1985 period. Since then total tonnage has doubled. As of 2008, Bruges-Zeebrugge is one of the fastest growing ports between Le Havre and Hamburg.^[4] It is Europe's leading RoRo port, handling 12.5 million mt in 2010, and the world's largest port for imports and exports of new vehicles, with over 1.6 million units handled in 2010 (24.5% less than in 2008 due to the economical crises). It is also Europe's largest terminal for liquefied natural gas (LNG),^[5] receiving natural gas from the Troll gas field via the 814-kilometre (506 mi; 440 nmi) long Zeepipe under the North Sea. LNG is also delivered in specialized gas tankers from various origins, like Africa, Australia or the Middle East. Zeebrugge counts as one of the most important ports in Europe for containerized cargo as well, handling over 2.5 million TEUs in 2010.

The port employs directly over 11,000 people and handles over 10,000 ship moorings annually. Together with the indirect employees, the port creates over 28,000 jobs.

The most important functions of the port are:

• Intense RoRo traffic between the Continent, Great Britain, Scandinavia and Southern Europe;
• European hub port for the automotive industry;
• Container port with a good nautical accessibility for + 19,000 TEU ships;
• Import of Liquefied Natural Gas and energy products;
• Handling, storage and distribution of perishables and other agricultural products;
• Handling of conventional general cargo and 'high & heavy' cargoes;
• Passenger transport;
• Organisation of the European distribution via an intricate network of hinterland connections.

Advantages of the port

The port complex of Bruges-Zeebrugge offers several main assets, which will allow volumes to develop even further in the years to come, namely,

• The favourable geographical position:
  • On the coast of the North Sea, the busiest sea in the world;
  • Central in relation to other North Sea ports;
  • Within a short distance of Great Britain;
  • Close to many major, densely populated and industrialised cities;
• Good nautical accessibility with a deep water draught in the approaches and at the berths;
• Good road and rail connections to all countries of Continental Europe;
• Several daily liner services to Great Britain and to other ports in northern and southern Europe, Zeebrugge being the cross-roads for traffic in all directions;
• A network of intercontinental and intra-European container services;
• Modern port equipment, recently established, which meets all the expectations of modern shipping and handling techniques;
• A large potential of skilled labour achieving high productivity.

Ferry routes

The following ferry operators operate regular scheduled, international routes to and from Zeebrugge.

Terminals

As of July 2015:

Gallery

• 
  Containership CMA CGM BALZAC in PSA HNN terminal.
• 
  Containership CMA CGM BIZET in PSA HNN terminal.
• 
  The Elly Mærsk, here at Zeebrugge port, currently one of the world's largest container vessels.
• 
  Mærsk containership.
• 
  Container ship leaving the port.
• 
  Cruise ship leaving the port.
• 
  Emile Cousin dock in the inner port in Bruges.

View on the eastern dam of the Port of Zeebrugge, Brugge, seen from the beach of Heist, Knokke-Heist.

Historical events

• 1866 Mr August de Maere d'Aertrijcke [nl], a Ghent Alderman describes the project of connecting his town with the sea in a public conference. He is known as the father of the Zeebrugge port.
• 1894 Belgian parliament votes the law approving the construction of Port of Heyst
• The port was inaugurated on 23 July 1907 by King Leopold II, who arrived by sea.
• On 23 April 1918, the port was the target of the Zeebrugge Raid by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines. This was an attempt to block access to and from the port by intentionally sinking ships to block the canal entrance, thus preventing its use by German ships and submarines. Eight participants in the raid were awarded the Victoria Cross.
• October 1918, the capture of Zeebrugge by the Allies.
• On 6 March 1987, the ferry Herald of Free Enterprise (owned by Townsend-Thoresen) was just outside the port when it took on water due to the bow doors remaining open, became unstable and capsized, killing 193 passengers.
• On 16 August 2014, 35 people of an Afghan origin, were found in a container at Tilbury Docks that had originated from The Bruges-Zeebruge port. All were suspected to be dehydrated and 1 man died from his injuries.