The most recent period in history is characterized by, among other things, the globalization of the world economy. This translates into a far-reaching business integration, which has created world players, also in the logistics sector: both with the stevedores and with the shipping companies we see constant increases in scale and changes in the shareholders structure. In Zeebrugge this is mainly noticeable in the clear increase in the dimensions of the ships and in the rise of container volumes. This period is undoubtedly the big breakthrough for Zeebrugge as container and distribution port.
Most important events:
Start of paper and pulp traffic of StoraEnso with a daily roro-connection between Zeebrugge and Göteborg.
New weekly roro-services to Finland (Finnlines) and Denmark (Cobelfret).
Start of the passenger and cargo connection between Zeebrugge and Rosyth in Schotland.
Suspension of the daily services to Dover by P&O North Sea Ferries which will later be renamed P&O Ferries.
Opening of the Toyota Vehicle Logistics Centre in the southern inner port.
Construction of the Tern Island.
The foundation of PortConnect, the fluvio-maritime chartering division of the port authoriy.
Start of the C2C Lines container service to Ireland with CdmC as stevedore. This is an initiative of the Cobelfret-group in cooperation with ECS. Cobelfret also takes over the car terminal of World Port Services and renames the terminal as CdmZ. Furthermore Cobelfret obtains a shareholding of 50% Sea-Ro terminal, next to PSA HNN (Port of Singapore Authority – HesseNoord Natie).
Opening of the bottling plant of juice producer Tropicana in the northern inner port.
Demolition of the cokesfactory of Carcoke.
Modernization of the container terminal on the Western Peninsula, which will from now on be operated by PSA HNN in cooperation with the French shipping company CMA CGM.
The Distrigas terminal in the outer port is renamed: Fluxys LNG Terminal and will be extended with a fourth big storage tank.
Opening of a new car terminal on the former terrains of bulk handling company ZBM at the Bastogne terminal. Initially the installation is operated by PSA HNN which will later sell his shares to International Car Operators (ICO), a part of the NYK-group.
Opening of the container terminal APM Terminals Zeebrugge on the former terrains of Flanders Container Terminal at the Albert II-dock and the arrival of the first intercontinental container traffic of Maersk Line.
New distribution initiatives: the building of a packing station for Zespri and the building of a distribution warehouse by container and trailer operator 2XL. At the Canadaterminal, Seapark applies itself to logistic activities concerning agricultural machines and excavators.
Deepening of the acces channel to 17 m and introduction of + 9.000 TEU containerships of CMA CGM, China Shipping Container Lines and Maersk Line.
Start of the works to eliminate the many crossroads on the N31 expressway between the E40 and Zeebrugge in phases.
Expansion of the distribution centre of Bridgestone.
Development of the Maritime Logistic Zone (MLZ) with the establishment of coffee distribution centre Seabridge.
The building of a bridge and a jetty at the Connection dock and the extension of the quay walls in the Southern Canal Dock.
The building of centres for vehicle modification by Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics and ICO.
Division of Sea-Ro terminal by which Cobelfret acquires concessions of the Brittannia dock, the Swedish quay and the Canada terminal en by which the Wielingen Dock terminal passes into the hands of PSA-HNN.
The building and start-up of Zeebrugge Food Logistics (storage of deepfrozen products).
The building of the border inspection post for the inspection of perishables.
Partial completion and start-up of the Zeebrugge International Container Port (ZIP) container terminal by PSA-HNN in the Albert II dock.
Expansion of the Brittannia terminal by partial filling of the Brittannia dock and construction of a roro jetty.
