EUROPEAN PORTS\\\


Port of Liège expands China connections


By Karen E. Thuermer


The multimodal Port of Liège in Belgium’s Wallonia region operates as a strategic inland port for shipments coming from and to


the Ports Rotterdam and Antwerp The port, which


of as


well as short sea shipments with direct access to the UK, Ireland, Scandianva and Russia. “We offer very good


connections,” comments Helen Thiebaut, port spokesperson. “We are 24 hours to Rotterdam; 14 hours to Antwerp.” From Liège, shippers can


reach 56 million consumers with in a 250-kilometer range. In 2018, the port saw waterway traffic of 15,949,357 tons, up .1%; water-road-rail traffic of 21,264,700 tons, up 1%; and 85,521 TEUS, up 31%.


encompasses a network of four ports, handles largely bulk and breakbulk goods, but is increasingly promoting its advantageous for containerized freight. “Containers are still a small part of our activity, however,” Thiebaut says. The cornerstone of its


containerized trade is Liège Trilogiport, which offers three on-site transportation modes (road, sea and rail) in addition to access to Liège Airport). Trilogiport offers nearly 1.432 million square feet of state- of-the-art warehouses. Jost Group has a 466,400 square foot warehouse at Trilogiport. DP World operates a 15-hectare container terminal there


as part of the Port of Liège, Europe’s third inland port. Particularly important, Liège Trilogiport is integrated into


the European logistics corridor that encompasses the Rhine, Alpes, North Sea, and Baltics region. “We are recognized


Issue 5 2019 - FBJNA


at the European level,” says Thiebaut. Perhaps the biggest news


coming from Liège last year was


the October 24


commencement of direct block train service from Zhengzhou in Central China to Liège. The service offers two weekly departures between the hubs, with no additional stops on route.


23 “By year’s end it will be


expanded to three,” reports Bernard Piette, general manager, Logistics in Wallonia. The journey takes 14-16 days,


and the train is operated by the Chinese ZIH. The


China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Belgium entered into agreement with China to participate in the BRI.


service is part of


Direct block train service from Zhengzhou, China to Liège, Belgium now runs twice weekly with no additional stops on route.


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