Brussels: a city proud of its port

The second inland port of Belgium, permanently accessible in 5 hours navigation from Antwerp, Brussels is situated in the heart of the Region of Brussels containing 1 million inhabitants in an economic hinterland of 3 million people and some 80 000 firms, mainly SMEs. Numerous advantages contribute to position it as major logistics player in Europe and notably its proximity to the decision-making bodies of the European Union and its geographical situation in the centre of a very dense motorway and rail network.

The traffic of Port of Brussels has experienced regular growth over the last few years, and recorded a record traffic of 24.3 million tonnes in 2008, of which nearly a third (7.8 million tonnes) by waterway. After having well resisted the global economic crisis at end 2008, the year 2009 was achieved with a fall of 23% in this waterway traffic to a little over 6 million tonnes. During these two delicate years, various measures have been taken by the Port to help the firms connected with their activities to confront this crisis (suppression of dues, suspension of the indemnity for lack of traffic, …). These contributed towards minimising this impact since none of their customers has become insolvent.

Installed all along the 14 km of waterway running through the Brussels Region, the port continues to play an essential role in the sustainable supplying of the city as is testified by the structure of its waterway traffic dominated by construction materials (56%) and energy products (27%).

According to the authorities of Port of Brussels, the potential for the development of the waterway could be multiplied by three without any additional investments. In a more general manner, the inland ports should besides in the future be led to play a role of "inland hub" for the sea ports, threatened by congestion. From this point of view, Brussels appears to be well positioned in the long term to assume this function at the service of certain of the largest North European seaports.

Nevertheless, this essential role played by the port in the centre of the city was far from being ensured at the end of the Eighties. Like most ports all over the world, it had gradually closed in on itself, breaking the links with the city and its urban tissue. A strong real estate pressure then threatened its future and a moratorium even hindered any investment by business firms and planned for the abandonment of the 2 most central dock basins. Various elements enabled the situation to be re-established: firstly the creation in 1993 of Port of Brussels, an organisation of public interest whose majority shareholder is the Region of Brussels-Capital (the Municipality being present with 33.4%), but also and concomitantly the mobilisation of port enterprises. A growth of traffics and a reduction in the real estate pressure followed.

From this point of view, the Port of Brussels is representative of the conflicts between urban and port utilisations which have under-laid city – port relationships up to the end of the 20th century. But it is also a very good example of the evolution of this relationship towards a new approach which is shown in Brussels by a very voluntarist strategy of urban integration. This strategy is besides laid down as one of the foundations in development and management documents such as the Masterplan for 2015. The drawing up of an "Urban Integration Plan" is even stipulated in the Management Contract which ties the Port to the Brussels-Capital Region. This contract which has recently been renewed for the period 2008-2012 reasserts this necessity alongside two other major orientations: the strengthening of the role of the port as a multimodal logistics platform at the heart of Europe; and its implication in the regional economy and employment.

The port: the waterway as an advantage

In this perspective, the waterway becomes an essential card in ensuring a harmonious cohabitation of urban and port functions. A study carried out in 2008 on the basis of the 2007 activity has shown that recourse to the waterway has enabled some 700 000 heavy goods vehicles to be taken off the roads. This represented an economy of 27.5 million euros in external costs, and the reduction of CO² emissions has been evaluated at between 32 600 and 51 500 tonnes. These environmental and social benefits constitute weighty arguments for reinforcing the presence of the waterway and port activities in the centre of the city.

In order to continue in this direction, various projects have been initiated.

Thus the first phase of the "Canal Logistics" project led by a private promoter is now operational. At term (2012) this logistics platform will offer 50 000 m² close to the port, the airport and the ring road, a short distance therefore from the city centre.

On the 12 hectares of the Carcoke site, a site described by the port as "a real industrial canker", at the gateway to the region, de-pollution works started in 2008 thanks to a financial grant from the Region. In the very short term, Katoen Natie will develop there a centre for integrated logistics services which should enable the creation of 400 jobs and a traffic of 500 000 tonnes by waterway.

In a general manner, several paths are currently programmed for the development of the port: the creation of a new multimodal rail-waterway platform which could generate 1 000 jobs (the 60 hectares of the Scharbeek Formation site have been suggested to house it) ; the development of Roll-on Roll-off as an alternative to entirely lorry routing; and new innovatory niches such as the carriage by barge and on pallets of materials or goods, a solution that has been tested in the Vergote dock-basin.

In the field of urban distribution and proximity logistics, another foundation for the development of the port, Brussels International Logistics Centre (BILC), a new generation logistics centre, will be developed with the French specialists Sogaris. It will be based on the TIR warehousing centre which is in the process of being modernised. The project is supported by the EIB and will enable 500 jobs to be created. Its exact location is currently being discussed with the Brussels government.

Besides its contribution to the quality of life of the inhabitants, this installation is also bearer of a message of modernity contributing to modify the image of the port and justifying its presence in the centre of the Brussels metropolis. This change of image was also one of the major objectives of the 1993-2007 urban integration programme: a strategy resumed in the then asserted will to counter the image of a port perceived up to then as a "no man’s land", to make it visible and comprehended again, and to rebuild in the minds of the Brussels people "a proud consciousness of the port".

Giving back a sense to the activities of the port in a renewed urban atmosphere

The Beco dock-basin, in the centre of the city, was the first target for the implementation of this strategy. Its left bank ("Quai des matériaux") was redeveloped between 1993 and 1999 into a public space for walking and relaxation, with new infrastructures for tourist boats. The right bank ("Quai des Péniches") was in its turn redeveloped between 2000 and 2002 into a multi-functional public area. Thus a completely new landscape making reference both to the canal and to the various elements of the port was created around this dock-basin.

More widely, this approach of architectural and landscaping integration covers the whole of the port domain. As early as 1996, a "Charter for the development of the Port of Brussels" was signed between the Port and the port enterprises, a charter updated in 2007. The signatories undertake to modernise their installations whilst respecting the urban surroundings: special attention must be paid to their boundaries (signs, fencings, etc.) and to the architecture itself (recommendations on colours, materials, etc.). This overall approach enables a coherency and visual continuity between the various port installations to be ensured; it thus renders the port better identifiable and enables it to assert its presence. This approach is still valid today and was one of the criteria for the jury to designate the architectural cabinet charged with the project of the previously mentioned BILC logistics centre.

During the 1993-2007 integration programme, other public spaces were developed (Place des Armateurs, Vergote dock-basin). A policy of diversification in the utilisation of the water was also initiated. This is shown by:

• on the one hand, the creation of popular events: the "port festival" which every two years attracts over 25 000 visitors or again the "Bruxelles les Bains" operation ;
• and on the other hand, the development of a complete collection of nautical and leisure activities: sailing and rowing schools, regattas, small boat hire. In the same spirit, the yacht harbour has been renovated.

Symbol of this search for harmony between port functions and utilisations for recreation, a nautical centre has been built in the fore-port.

The "2008-2018 Urban Integration Plan" strengthens both this enhancement of the port landscape and the development of the leisure centre of the Béco dock-basin.

Thus the programme for the embellishment of the Molenbeek and Aderlecht locks in the context of the previous programme should be completed before this summer 2010. It will enable both their enhancement in an urban district itself being reconverted, and the improvement of the security and safety of the sites.

In the same spirit, a renovation and illumination programme of the old bridges of Brussels, fine testimonies to the industrial era, has been programmed. This programme is now already completed for the Pont des Armateurs which marks the entrance between city and port. It is under way for the Pont des Hospices and the Pont de Buda. This approach is completed by an overall illumination plan to put the whole nocturnal scene of the canal into value.

The strengthening of passenger activities is also programmed. Over 100 000 people each year take boat trips on the canal. The Port besides receives over 100 canal cruise boats annually. Two places were up to now used for this passenger activity: the Béco dock-basin for boat trips and short canal excursions, and the Heembeek quay for the cruise passengers. The latter will however be redeveloped for new logistics and port activities. In order to respond to the pressure from cruise operators and to make more lasting an activity with an evident interest for the reinforcement of the tourist attraction of Brussels, the modification of infrastructures in the Béco dock-basin and the installation of a cruise terminal in the fore-port have therefore been decided on.

Following a feasibility study, it is finally the Meudon site which has been selected for the installation of this new terminal. The request for additional financing from Europe is being processed for this project estimated at €3 million (excluding the renovation of the Meudon pavilions) and works should start in 2012.

At the same time, in order to confirm the Béco dock-basin as a tourist and cultural centre, two calls for projects were issued in 2008. One concerned the reception of small canal cruise vessels and excursion boats on the left bank. The berths have now been allocated and the installations set up. The other concerned the development of on-the-water cultural activities on the right bank in order to provide an urban added value to this sector. Two installations have been validated so far: the installation of the Actors’ Boat, a floating cinema for which the Port has granted a 10 year concession; and the construction, of a floating 60 room hotel, the Atlantis, which will be built on a 100 metre long barge under passive house principles and which will be moored alongside the cinema boat.

To complete and symbolise this voluntarist strategy of the integration of port and urban functions, a flagship building was necessary. This is one of the raison d’être for the Port House. It will be installed on the edge of the Vergote dock-basin on port land and completed by a park. The project, estimated at 13 million euros, has the benefit of a grant from the Region and of European financing. The selection of the private partner who will be charged with the construction and running of the building is in process. The structuring of the surroundings and the public area should be completed in 2012.

Born side by side, the City and Port of Brussels are now set to grow together.

The Port of Brussels is a member of AIVP

Sogaris is a member of AIVP