The Antwerp-Bruges Port Authority has carried out a major overhaul of the Baudouin Lock, first opened in 1955 by King Baudouin. The facility, which mainly handles river vessels and small seagoing vessels, had been in operation for over 60 years and needed to be updated to improve its reliability and safety.
The work included a complete overhaul of the lock wings and bypass gates, replacement of steel structures and concrete elements, as well as renewal of key components – lock beams, the upper carriage and its rails. Such a comprehensive overhaul will extend the service life of the lock and facilitate its future maintenance.
The port authority stressed that regular maintenance and major repairs every 25 years are necessary for the smooth operation of shipping routes. According to project expert Erik De Bruijn, the renovation of the lock guarantees the continuity of shipping traffic and the preservation of the infrastructure, which plays a key role in the stable cargo turnover of Antwerp and Zeebrugge.