Page 22 - Navigator 2021
P. 22

                 International response to corona on the Western Scheldt
  THE WESTERN SCHELDT PROVIDES ACCESS TO BOTH THE BELGIAN PORTS OF ANTWERP AND GHENT AND THE DUTCH PORTS OF VLISSINGEN AND TERNEUZEN. THEREFORE, THE RIVER IS GOVERNED BY A JOINT NAUTICAL AUTHORITY THAT REGULATES TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT AND ENTRY POLICY FOR BOTH COUNTRIES AND DIRECTS THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE OPERATIONAL SERVICES. ON THE BELGIAN SIDE, THE DEPART- MENT IS HEADED BY REBECCA ANDRIES ON BEHALF OF THE MARITIME AND COASTAL SERVICES (MARITIEME DIENSTVER- LENING EN KUST, MDK); HER DUTCH COUNTERPART IS ERIC ADAN ON BEHALF OF THE DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR PUBLIC WORKS AND WATER MANAGEMENT (RIJKSWATERSTAAT). TO- GETHER, THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR A UNIFORM NAUTICAL POLICY ON THE WESTERN SCHELDT. AND THEN CORONA HIT...
CROSS-BORDER CHALLENGES
“That’s when everything changed,” says Adan. “It started in early
2020 with some infections aboard ships. The discussion soon shifted to the measures necessary to keep the ports open and thus secure supplies for the population.” Andries: “We were given the assignment to establish a task force with all parties involved for agreements regarding a uniform covid policy. Participants were trusted chain partners such as the Belgian and Dutch pilotage services, the port authorities, traffic management (VTS), our own policy departments, terminals, tugs, the inland shipping sector, etc. Two medical authorities were added, Saniport for Belgium and the GGD for the Netherlands, each of whom had their own rules. Quite a puzzle, as you can see. In the end, we were able to encapsulate all the corona measures into
an Announcement to the Scheldt Shipping Area (BASS). Adan: “Most important was ensuring that everyone could still safely perform their duties, like the pilots on board ships, for example. The cross-border aspect required special attention. After all, the borders between the Netherlands and Belgium were closed and pilots and tugs had to be able to return home at all times after their job was done.”
WORKING TOGETHER ON RELAXATION
Andries: “Almost two years have passed since then; vaccinations are available and the situation has reversed. In the context of relaxation, we now have to consult with all parties to roll back measures. That
is possibly even more difficult, because people are used to certain advantages, such as not sailing abroad with vessels in adverse weather conditions. Relaxation of the covid-measures gives an opportunity to discuss this logistic advantage separately.” Adan adds: “The corona measures also brought other benefits. For example, the digitisation
of documents and meetings has further increased. As such distances between people became literally smaller.”
Looking back, Andries says: “A unique period. As joint chain partners, we can ultimately be proud of our combined achievements over the past year and a half.”
22 NAVIGATOR NL 2021 N°21























































































   20   21   22   23   24