Important milestone for AWT ArcelorMittal Ghent

In the middle of 2020, a modernist gem for ArcelorMittal, the "All Weather Terminal" (AWT), will rise in the Ghent seaport. The project execution and maintenance of the very first covered loading quay and warehouse in Ghent was entrusted to the well-known contractor for infrastructure works and large industrial projects, Stadsbader, as appointed by its client PMV. Not an easy project due to the builder's desire for the structure of the new AWT to rise some 30 meters above the surface of the water.

The 240-meter long and 60-meter wide "All Weather Terminal" with a storage capacity of 60,000 tons will be built next to ArcelorMittal Gent's existing, "open" general cargo quay. It will initially be used to store and ship finished steel coils produced by the company. The new terminal aims to further optimize service to ArcelorMittal Gent's customers. For the time being, loading of high-grade steel can only take place in dry weather, while within two years these operations will be able to be carried out 24/7 regardless of weather conditions. An investment of over 50 million euros will be allocated for this purpose.

Short lead times

Thanks to the close cooperation between Stadsbader and its consultants Abetec, SBE and MTBS, the project should see rapid development. Dominique Valcke, CEO of the Stadsbader Group: "Despite the complexity of this grand structure, the 'All Weather Terminal' is expected to involve a short turnaround time of 22 months; a timeframe that also includes the timeframe for approval and granting of the environmental permit. Both our logistics performance and engineering expertise will be used to achieve the set objectives of this AWT, which is being built on the basis of a Design, Build & Maintain (DBM) contract."