North Sea Port has imposed temporary restrictions on bulk vessel traffic along the Ghent-Terneuzen Canal due to critically low water levels caused by ongoing drought conditions.
The port operator is barring any ships with a draft exceeding 12.35 meters from navigating the waterway, effectively grounding a significant portion of the deep-draft bulk fleet that relies on this critical artery for access to inland terminals in Belgium and the Netherlands.
The restrictions also extend to several locks in Terneuzen, which have been partially closed to manage the reduced flow and protect infrastructure.
This operational constraint forces carriers to either lighten loads before entering the canal or reroute cargo to alternative ports, increasing transit times and freight costs for commodities such as coal, grain, and minerals.
For traders and logistics managers, the move signals a tightening of capacity on one of Europe’s most important inland shipping routes.
The disruption comes as European infrastructure faces mounting pressure from extreme weather.