{"id":47411,"date":"2025-11-14T09:16:36","date_gmt":"2025-11-14T08:16:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/services2\/ports-and-hydraulic-engineering\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T14:06:45","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T13:06:45","slug":"ports-and-hydraulic-engineering","status":"publish","type":"services","link":"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/en\/services\/ports-and-hydraulic-engineering\/","title":{"rendered":"Ports & Hydraulic Engineering"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Ports and waterways: the arteries of our open economy<\/h1>\n

Ports and waterways are crucial in our open economy. Belgium ranks seventh in the European list thanks to the ports of Antwerp-Bruges and the North Sea Port. This is an impressive achievement for our relatively small country. At the same time, these figures reveal a number of challenges, such as location near urban areas and in ecologically sensitive coastal and river areas. Our ports and hydraulic engineering experts offer innovative solutions for sea and landside access.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Contact us<\/a><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\n\t<\/section>\n\n
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Growth and competition call for new investments<\/h2>\n

Transport on waterways is increasing, with more and larger ships carrying larger containers. In 2024, barges distributed 166 million tonnes of goods across Belgium. Influenced by global competition, our maritime ports also continue to invest. Sweco supports investors, governments, and companies<\/strong> in the realisation of new transhipment quays, port modifications, renewal of locks, dams, and pumping stations, and the widening and deepening of canals and rivers.<\/p>\n

With flood embankments, controlled flood plains [link to the \u201cFloods & Droughts Management\u201d service], reservoirs, pumping stations, and green infrastructure [link to the \u201cGreen-Blue Strategies\u201d service], we ensure sustainable and safe growth<\/strong> of water-based trade.<\/p>\n

Well thought-out processes for balanced projects<\/h3>\n

Our multidisciplinary teams include experts in civil engineering, logistics, environmental consultancy, environmental impact assessment and management, coastal defence [link to the \u201cCoastal Protection & Resilience\u201d service], and water transport. They guide you through all phases of the project:<\/p>\n