Kieldrecht Lock

The Kieldrecht Lock (Dutch: Kieldrechtsluis), referred to as the Deurgank Dock Lock (Dutch: Deurgankdoksluis) during construction,[2] is the world's largest lock, taking over this title from the Berendrecht Lock. The Kieldrecht Lock is the newest of two locks that give access to the left-bank docks of the Port of Antwerp in Belgium, between the Scheldt river and the Waasland Canal. The creation of the Kieldrecht lock has relieved the amount of traffic for the Waasland Canal that the Kallo Lock was experiencing. The lock, situated in the municipality of Beveren, was opened on 10 June 2016 in the presence of King Philippe of Belgium.

Kieldrecht Lock
Kieldrechtsluis
Map showing location of the Kieldrecht Lock (marked Kieldrechtsluis) within the Port of Antwerp
WaterwayWaasland Canal and The Deurganck Dock
CountryBelgium
CountyBeveren
First builtOctober 2011 – May 2016
Length500 m (1,640 ft 5 in)
Width68 m (223 ft 1 in)[1]
FallVaries according to sea-level
Location of Kieldrecht Lock in Belgium
Coordinates51°16′44″N 4°14′52″E
The Andromeda J (IMO 9355422 - 2006) in the Kieldrecht Lock, June 2016

Construction

On 24 October 2011, work started on the Kieldrecht Lock on the left bank of the Scheldt. The construction of the lock was completed on 27 April 2015,[3] and the lock was filled with water. The filling with 1 million m3 of water took a week. The official opening was initially planned for 15 April 2016, but opening was postponed due to heavy water damage in a technical room.[4] The opening finally took place on 10 June 2016, in the presence of King Filip.[5] Based on the design of the Berendrecht Lock, it has the same length and width, but with an operational depth (TAW) of 17.8 metres (58 ft), which makes it the world's largest lock. To construct the lock, 9.1 million m3 of earth was excavated, and 22,000 tonnes of structural steel, three times the amount required to build the Eiffel Tower. Costing €340 million, of which 50% is financed by the European Investment Bank, the Flemish KBC Bank also made an €81 million credit line available, with the balance provided by the Antwerp Port Authority and the Flemish Government.[6]

Dimensions

The dimensions of the Kieldrecht Lock are:

  • Length: 500 metres (1,600 ft)
  • Width: 68 metres (223 ft)
  • Operational Depth (TAW): 17.8 metres (58 ft)
  • Lock Gates: four sliding gates

In both length and total volume (length×breadth×difference in water levels), the Kieldrecht Lock is the largest in the world.

References
  1. "The Kieldrecht lock is the largest lock in the world". Retrieved 2013-06-19.
  2. "Deurganck Dock Lock becomes Kieldrecht Lock". 15 January 2016. Retrieved 2016-08-15.
  3. "Largest lock in the world experiences "historic moment"". 27 April 2015. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
  4. "Opening Kieldrecht lock is delayed". HLN.be. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
  5. "Kieldrechtsluis festively opened by King Filip". 10 June 2016. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
  6. "Works start on the world's largest lock at Antwerp Port". PortTechnology.org. 23 November 2011. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
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