CHZ, which is a joint venture between PSA (65 per cent) and CMA CGM’s Terminal Link with a capacity of 1.1 million TEU, is reportedly being closed because a sharp decrease in volumes made the terminal no longer profitable, thus no longer viable under PSA.

 

PSA has reportedly said that, in addition to the ongoing economic slowdown and increasing competition, the continuing wave of consolidation in the shipping industry has had a negative impact on the activities of CHZ, resulting in a severe decline in volumes over the past years.

 

When in use, the CHZ facility had three container berths, a quay length of 1,000 metres, a maximum depth of 17 metres and four quay cranes.

 

The procedure for collective redundancies of employees at the terminal has started and, once the facilities are closed, the concession of the terminal will be transferred back to the port authority.

 

On December 18, the board of directors of Port Authority Zeebrugge (MBZ) is expected to discuss the rezoning of the CHZ’s quay, which is 1,600 metres long.

 

Neil Davidson, senior analyst at Drewry, told London's Container Management that most of the major container ports in the Hamburg-Le Havre range reported a year-on-year decrease in volume due to the global slowdown and continued Eurozone weakness, and Zeebrugge has been hardest hit with a 20 per cent decline.

 

However, he added, the Port of Antwerp is the one port seeing a growth.

 

"Antwerp is closer in inland terms, has the benefit of a greater critical mass which Zeebrugge lacks, and also generates significant export cargo, more so than Zeebrugge. However, Antwerp has a long river passage and navigation restrictions for large ships," said Mr Davidson.

 

(Source:shippingazette)