Zeebrugge reaffirms its reputation as a ‘deep-sea port’ on the North Sea. Today, the Ever Greet successfully docked in the West Flanders port. Below the water level, this ocean giant, 399.98 meters long and 58.80 meters wide, had a draft of 16.3 meters, which is 10 centimeters deeper than the previous record. The Ever Greet docked after a long journey from Sri Lanka and has 17,989 TEU onboard. The extra centimeters of draft allow ships to carry more cargo. In Zeebrugge, 400 TEU was unloaded, just enough to reduce the ship’s draft to 16 meters, allowing the Ever Greet to continue its voyage to the Deurganckdok in Antwerp.

Coastal pilots from the Agency Maritime Services and Coast (MDK) guided the Ever Greet after the ship reported to the Wandelaar, the floating pilot station in the North Sea. They had to take many factors into account, such as the tidal window for the port and the current. The cross-current in the final approach channel to Zeebrugge’s port entrances also had to be closely monitored. This so-called ‘Pas van Zand’ is only 300 meters wide, while the ship is 59 meters wide and 399 meters long. Given the size and draft of the Ever Greet, the ship was assigned two top-category coastal pilots.

Nathalie Balcaen – Agency Maritime Services and Coast (MDK):“Successfully guiding an ocean giant with that draft into Zeebrugge requires excellent teamwork. Our coastal pilots and colleagues from Maritime Guidance did a great job. I also want to thank the Technical Committee Zeebrugge, who helped prepare the entire scenario and monitored the entry from the radar tower in Zeebrugge.”

The more cargo a ship takes on board, the deeper it lies in the water. The current generation of Ultra Large Container Ships (ULCS), such as the Ever Greet, can be up to 400 meters long and carry up to 20,160 TEU. They have a maximum draft of 16.35 meters.

Dirk De fauw – Mayor of the City of Bruges and Vice Chairman of Port of Antwerp-Bruges: “This depth record proves that Zeebrugge – and by extension Port of Antwerp-Bruges – is ready for the largest and heaviest-loaded container ships in the world. Thanks to all the services that safely guided this record ship to our port.”

George Wang – Project Division – Evergreen Taiwan: “We charter a total of eleven ships of the G-type. ‘Ever Greet’ is the eleventh and final ship of this series. It is said that the last drop of wine is the best and should only be reserved for the most important person. The same applies to this ship. Therefore, we have this last and best G-ship call at Zeebrugge and Antwerp, as a symbol of a close friendship.”

In Antwerp, the maximum draft was recently increased to 16 meters. Earlier this year, the MSC Aurora became the first ship with a 16-meter draft to enter the Port of Antwerp under the regular admission policy, after a successful passage on the Western Scheldt. A significant step for Port of Antwerp-Bruges, which involved three years of preparation by various partners such as MDK, the Joint Nautical Authority, and the shipping companies. Ship agents or ‘water clerks’, towage services, container services, and boatmen also play an important role in this chain.