Mobility and Environment

The Port is becoming an intelligent logistic centre for the benefit of mobility

It is by the port that most of the supply to Brussels occurs: from foodstuffs and agricultural products to petroleum products, building materials or metallurgical products.

With close to 7 million tons transported by water in 2017, the impact on the mobility and the environment of Brussels is direct, since it is estimated that it has allowed the saving of almost 650,000 lorries in and around Brussels (more than 2,000 lorries per day), 100,000 tons of CO2 and 25 million euros in external costs.

Moreover, the Port of Brussels’ objective is to develop new types of traffic. A creative example is that of the transport of pallets, for which the Port of Brussels is one of the pioneers. More than 13,500 were loaded and unloaded in the port in 2017, against 3,000 in 2014.

Concretely, the Port is developing a network of transshipment platforms along the canal, in order to organise urban distribution by water and to ensure the delivery of the goods closer to the end-user in order to reduce the “last kilometre” costs.

The project envisages transshipment points in the centre of Brussels, where the goods are sent directly to their final destination, as well as more important platforms (hubs) located at the Vergote Dock and the Biestebroeck Dock. The hubs will allow the temporary storage of goods before shipment, as well as complementary activities (grouping, repacking, etc.).

These platforms will accommodate both fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) and building materials. The Port’s involvement in urban distribution is already a reality but it will be more structured at the conclusion of the installation of the network of platforms. The project is being developed in the context of the Region’s  “Strategic Plan for the Transport of Goods”.