North Sea Port awards former BTZ site in Vlissingen to BOW Terminal
Following the closure and bankruptcy of Bulk Terminal Zeeland, the trustees and the port authority North Sea Port started the search for a new company to develop operations on this extensive site.
After completing the selection phase at the end of June, the trustees and the port authority came to a (preliminary) agreement with Breakbulk and Offshore Wind Terminal Vlissingen B.V. (Bow Terminal). This company already operates in the Sloe area in Vlissingen, including the storage, transport and logistics of offshore wind components and the dismantling of obsolete wind turbines.
Offshore wind and bulk
Bow Terminal will further develop its offshore wind activities at the new site and focus on bulk transhipment. ‘We are delighted with the award to be able to further shape our offshore wind activities at this beautiful location and complement this with associated bulk flows (bulk rock) and adjacent storage and transhipment,’ said Jack Kloosterboer of Bow Terminal.
‘With this, the new operator meets the requirements of the port authority to be active in the energy and/or raw material transition, to have deep-sea port-related activities and to make the best use of the existing infrastructure and terrain,’ said Cas König, CEO of North Sea Port.
Indeed, this is a very exceptional 34-hectare site on San Marinoweg in Ritthem: the former site of the closed company Bulk Terminal Zeeland (BTZ) and land around it, including the new 700-metre-long deep-sea Quarleskade and direct access via the Westerschelde to the North Sea. In addition, there are two warehouses with a total area of 40,000 m².
Sustainable development and safety
With the issue of this unique site to Bow Terminal, North Sea Port is further developing as a top European port. ‘In line with the shareholder strategy, we are helping to increase strategic autonomy within Europe, ensure sustainable development and employment,’ says Cas König. ‘Moreover, the choice involves a continued focus on security and integrity.’
In the search for a new company, after completion of the selection phase, the phase to finalise the agreements with Bow Terminal and set them down in contract documentation now begins.
