Berendrecht Lock

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john sefton
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Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2009 1:59 pm

Berendrecht Lock

Post by john sefton » Tue Jun 06, 2017 11:44 am

The Berendrecht Lock is the world's second largest lock, giving access to the right-bank docks of the Port of Antwerp in Belgium.
Post World War II, work started on the Grote Doorsteek, an ambitious plan which ultimately resulted in the extension of the Antwerp docks on the right bank of the Scheldt to the Netherlands border. In 1967, the company completed the construction of the Zandvliet Lock (Zandvlietsluis), then the world's largest lock.
Construction
In 1989, needing to accommodate wider Post-Panamax ship, the company built a new lock just to the south of the Zandvliet lock. The Berendrecht Lock, which at 68 metres (223 ft), is 11 metres (36 ft) wider. Bascule bridges at the ends of each lock, (Zandvliet and Frederik-Hendrik bridges across the Zandlievet lock; and Oudendijk and Berendrecht bridges across the Berendrecht lock), allow full road traffic access around the port.[ The two locks now work as a doubled lock system.
Completion of the Berendrecht Lock allowed the extended development of the right bank docks complex, and later the creation of fast turnround tidal berths, both on the right bank (Europa Terminal and the North Sea Terminal), and on the left bank (Deurganck Dock).
Dimensions
The dimensions of the Berendrecht Lock are as follows:
Length: 500 metres (1,600 ft)
Width: 68 metres (223 ft)
Operational Depth (TAW): 13.5 metres (44 ft)
Sill depth at mean high water: 17.75 metres (58.2 ft)
No. Lock Gates: four, sliding lock gates
On both length and total volume (length x breadth x the difference in water levels), the Berendrecht Lock is the second largest in the world.
The vessel shown is an artists impression.
Wikipedia
Attachments
3027.jpeg

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