Long-serving CEO Eddy Bruyninckx retires from Antwerp Port A
Time: 2016-12-26 13:39
CEO Eddy Bruyninckx of the Antwerp Port Authority is to retire at the end of 2016, bringing to a close a quarter of century in office during which time the port's freight volume doubled. He is to be replaced by Jacques Vandermeiren, who takes up the helm from January 1.
Over the course of Mr Bruyninckx's career the port's freight volume rose from 103 million tonnes in 1990 to 208 million in 2015. The port employs (directly and indirectly) 150,000 people and generates 4.8 per cent of GDP. When he first joined the port authority the largest containerships had a capacity of 3,000 TEU, but now the port regularly receives visits by 19,000 TEU vessels.
According to Mr Bruyninckx, the port of Antwerp's success is due entirely to the two rounds of deepening of the river Scheldt (in 1997 and 2010) and the construction of the Deurganck dock (2005), reported American Journal of Transportation.
"Antwerp will continue to play successfully in the Champions' League of world ports, able to face any challenge thanks to its creative and dedicated workforce," said Mr Bruyninckx. "The port of Antwerp has expanded significantly in recent years, with liquid bulk as the most important source of growth followed closely by containers.
"The prospects look good: we have just had another record year, and we can look forward to massive industrial investments. Our port will continue this upward path with investments in infrastructure by both the public and private sectors acting as the engine of economic development, employment and added value," he added.
Over the course of Mr Bruyninckx's career the port's freight volume rose from 103 million tonnes in 1990 to 208 million in 2015. The port employs (directly and indirectly) 150,000 people and generates 4.8 per cent of GDP. When he first joined the port authority the largest containerships had a capacity of 3,000 TEU, but now the port regularly receives visits by 19,000 TEU vessels.
According to Mr Bruyninckx, the port of Antwerp's success is due entirely to the two rounds of deepening of the river Scheldt (in 1997 and 2010) and the construction of the Deurganck dock (2005), reported American Journal of Transportation.
"Antwerp will continue to play successfully in the Champions' League of world ports, able to face any challenge thanks to its creative and dedicated workforce," said Mr Bruyninckx. "The port of Antwerp has expanded significantly in recent years, with liquid bulk as the most important source of growth followed closely by containers.
"The prospects look good: we have just had another record year, and we can look forward to massive industrial investments. Our port will continue this upward path with investments in infrastructure by both the public and private sectors acting as the engine of economic development, employment and added value," he added.
