March 19 - Four huge gates destined for the Deurganck dock lock in the port of Antwerp will begin their journey from China to Belgium at the beginning of April.

The gates, which were built by Chinese steel constructor ZPMC, each weigh 2,000 tonnes and have the approximate dimensions 70 m x 11 m x 27 m.

Loading of the gates and ancillary equipment on board the the semi-submersible vessel Zhen Hua 15, which will take them to Antwerp, has already begun.

Once in Belgium, manoeuvring the lock gates into position is expected to take at least two weeks, said the Port of Antwerp.

 

The lock gates being loaded onto Zhen Hua 15.

 

Liu Jianbo, vice-president of ZPMC, gives a speech at the shipping ceremony for the Antwerp lock gates.

 

www.portofantwerp.com

www.zpmc.com/index.html