In 2016 MSC PSA European Terminal (MPET) in Antwerp, formerly known as the MSC Home Terminal, has moved its operations from the Delwaidedock on the right bank of the river Scheldt to the Deurganckdock on the left bank.
With this purpose the terminal on the left bank has been expanded to an annual capacity of 9 mln TEU. The EUR 400 mln project started in November, 2014. Additional plot of 120 ha was created, making the total yard area 240 ha. Extra 2,500 reefer plugs were constructed.
A special story has been the move of 21 STS cranes and straddle carriers from the right bank to the left. The 18km journey was effected by barges.
The 5 new ZPMC dual hoist STS cranes, capable of handling over 20,000 TEU vessels were delivered in November, 2015 and put into operation in 2016. More identical cranes are to arrive from ZPMC by the end of 2016, according to PSA Antwerp.
When fully operational, MPET will feature a total of 41 quay cranes across 10 berths, with a quay length of 3,550 m and 200 straddle carriers.
The complete relocation of the terminal has been arranged without interrupting its daily functioning. Since April, all Transatlantic services are handled at the left bank. By end 2016, all MPET activities are to be fully concentrated at the new terminal at Deurganckdock, making it the single largest container terminal in Europe and a port of choice for the 2M shipping alliance.
The terminal is a joint venture between PSA and Terminal Investment Limited (TIL), started in 2004 from two separate terminals handling ‘only’ one million boxes. Its volume in 2015 was over 7 mln TEU.