This information is related to inland shipping, but the fact that the Juliana Canal will be closed also affects logistic operations in the Dutch seaports.
The Juliana Canal in Limburg will be closed for several months for deepening and widening of the channel, which is expected to cause significant delays to inland shipping and impact the logistical operations of Dutch ports. Inland vessels will need to reroute via the Zeeland Kreekrak Locks, located in the Scheldt-Rhine Canal, one of Europe’s busiest shipping routes. With only one lock chamber currently available for passage, the closure of the Juliana Canal is likely to have a substantial effect.
Several industries, including those at the Chemelot industrial estate—home to companies such as SABIC, OCI Nitrogen, Fibrant, and AnQore—anticipate considerable delays for inland shipping, which may force exporters to rely on road transportation until the canal operations are complete. However, the limited capacity of road transport is unlikely to fully compensate for the loss of waterway capacity, potentially causing delays in the loading and discharging of vessels at Dutch seaports.
Last month, authorities confirmed that work on the Juliana Canal would take longer than expected, with completion now estimated for April 2025. We recommend that any shipowners planning to call at Dutch ports for loading or discharging cargo to or from inland ports communicate with their charterers and agents to assess the potential impact on their operations before arrival. This should also be considered when scheduling new voyages to and from Dutch ports.
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