New Lock in Terneuzen fully operational: North Sea Port expands maritime access

On 1 August 2025, the New Lock in Terneuzen officially became fully operational. This milestone significantly increases the capacity of the North Sea Lock complex, granting larger sea-going vessels smoother access to North Sea Port and the European hinterland.

The first trial runs took place in May 2025. Under controlled conditions, pilots, tug services, captains and operators gained experience with lock operations, guiding vessels through the chamber and coordinating activities on the lock platform. The tests went smoothly and confirmed that the New Lock can be operated safely and efficiently.

Thanks to the New Lock, vessels with a draft of up to 12.5 metres can now transit the Ghent–Terneuzen Canal at any tide. Previously, this was only possible at high water. This improvement means greater flexibility, reliability and throughput for maritime shipping.

The New Lock is a technical masterpiece:

• 427 metres long
• 55 metres wide
• 16.44 metres deep

This makes it suitable for vessels up to 366 metres in length, 49 metres in width and 14.5 metres in draft. In doing so, the New Lock matches the international trend of ever-larger vessels and is comparable to the modern locks of the Panama Canal.

With this expansion, North Sea Port strengthens its position as a leading logistics hub and maritime gateway to Europe. The New Lock improves access to and from the North Sea, the Western Scheldt and the Ghent–Terneuzen Canal. In this way, North Sea Port reinforces the international shipping corridor between Rotterdam and Paris while responding to the growth of global maritime trade.

With this second sea lock, located next to the West Lock, North Sea Port can also guarantee permanent sea access to the port area beyond the lock. This provides an alternative during maintenance works on one of the sea locks, ensuring uninterrupted supply to companies in the region. Additionally, the larger lock can be used for water discharge. The East Lock remains important as a third lock within the complex, primarily for inland shipping.

North Sea Port makes no secret of its ambition to deepen the canal quickly, enabling ships with a draft of 14.5 to 15 metres to reach the bulk terminal in Terneuzen - about two kilometres beyond the lock. This would eliminate the need for vessels to offload on the Western Scheldt before passing through the New Lock, allowing this to take place more safely and cost-effectively in the port itself.

Looking further ahead, the port authority is eager to see vessels up to 43 metres wide sail from the New Lock to the Kluizendok and Rodenhuizedok in Ghent. For a bulk carrier transporting dry or liquid cargo, this could mean savings of several hundred thousand euros per voyage.

www.nieuwesluisterneuzen.eu