The port of Ostend, situated in Europe's busiest maritime area, is undoubtedly a versatile shortsea port. It can accommodate all types of coastal maritime traffic.

The port has recently been modernized in both its infrastructure and organization and is now the leading force in the industrialization of the hinterland.

Cargo, Logistics and Manufacturing

Ostend is the smallest of the four ports in Flanders but it is growing smoothly as cargo, logistics and manufacturing operations take over from its 150 years of history as one of the Channel's major passenger ferry ports. Development of the port area is seeing an increasing number of new companies move in. The port's total cargo volume rose to 7,98 million ton in 2007.

The expansion of the ro-ro port has been the main focus in the modernisation of the outer port. Nowadays Ostend is an important shortsea hub for traffic to the UK and handles about 300.000 ro-ro units per year. In the future the port is planning to build additional ro-ro berths.

Short sea container lines and feeder services choose Ostend for the excellent facilities, short transit times and efficient service.

The general cargo port is an essential element in the port activities. Seadregded aggregates are important import products as well as other products such as ferro sillicium, building materials, timber and fertilisers. Two inner docks, several quays in the outer port and the quays along the canal Ostend- Bruges-Ghent in the industrial areas of Plassendale (subsidiary of AG Port Oostende) are used for all types of general cargo.

Road, rail, sea, waterway and air

In addition to its seaport, Ostend is also home to an international freight and passenger airport. The multi-modal function is further emphasized by the presence of comprehensive railroad infrastructure, of a canal leading up to the European inland waterway network and of course the motorway A10-E40 linked directly to the port terminals.

Developing logistics operations and industry

Sites are available as Ostend continues to develop the port area for industrial and logistics companies. Run by Plassendale, the area features Seagate, specifically for logistics operations and with a new dock directly in front, as well as five other divisions for particular industrial purposes, including chemicals.

An investment fund has been launched to help start-up companies looking to establish themselves in the Plassendale industry zone or in the Green Bridge Science Park. Known as the Amandine Fund, the fund has six million euro available and is offering minority participation to a maximum of half a million euro.

Recent companies moving onto the sites include Continental Express Flooring Ltd, specialized in the distribution of carpet flooring, with a new 6,000 square meter logistics facility, and Icemark, which is building a two million euro logistics facility for handling, re-packaging and labelling of fish products, as well as a call center for orders.

The Dutch energy producer ONS and the Belgian company Electrawinds are building a 15 million euro power plant at Ostend in a program to produce green electric power from used cooking oil.

Chemical plant co-siting

The Plassendale chemical site is owned and operated by Proviron. With an area of 100 hectares, the site offers a wide range of options from greenfield operations to fully co-operative ventures. Skilled labor for chemical operations is readily available, as are services ranging from utilities and raw materials to joint services (such as engineering, safety and environment). An independent maintenance service provider is present on-site.

The site is currently shared by two Proviron companies together with JM Huber. Raw materials worked with include amines, aromatics, butyl chloride, chlorosulphonic acid, ethylene oxide, H2S, metallic sodium, oleum / SO3, O-Xylene and piperazine.

Source: Port of Ostend,  http://www.portofoostende.be