Dutch Delay Dredging; Antwerp Frustrated

[Michael van der Meer]

The Netherlands Council of State this week suspended a routing decree and an implementation permit for deepening
the shipping channel in the Dutch portion of the River Scheldt.

The Belgian port of Antwerp, the largest breakbulk port in Europe, lies on the River Scheldt. Below Antwerp the
Western Scheldt, Antwerp

[Allan RO]

Hi Michael

Look, its no use complaining - we in Southampton know that birds are considered far more important than international trade - which is why we don't have the Dibden Bay container terminal in Southampton - the land for which was bought by ABP for redevelopment many years ago - but when they put forward to plans to proceed with the development, a few waders had become established - so no new container terminal.  

Reassuring to know the Dutch are as nuts as we are.

Allan

[Michael van der Meer]

You are right. Maasvlakte 2 almost had the same destiny because 'fish must change their route along the Dutch coast'. Of course the environment is important, but not always as a economy is important as well for a nation.

[Gerolf Drebes]

Last week-end, there was not much seen about that problem. Many dredgers around Flushing and inbetween Flushing and Terneuren, even on the sunday.
Gerolf