Zeebrugge sees positive future: Despite the gloomy economic times, Belgium's Port of Zeebrugge has enjoyed booming business thanks to a range of new services that have recently opened

摘要

Europe's economies may be rapidly heading towards recession but visitors to the Port of Zeebrugge in Belgium may be forgiven for thinking the opposite is the case. Over the past two years, the port has undergone a period of rapid expansion, while a number of new shipping services have either been established or expanded at the site. According to Port Authority Zeebrugge's director of international development, Jan Vannieuwenburg, the total volume of cargo handled at the port increased by 7.3 per cent during 2007, up to 42.3m tonnes. Container traffic growth also jumped 24 per cent to reach 2.05m TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units).