Modal Separation in Space: Europa Terminal in Antwerp

Modal Separation in Space Europa Terminal in Antwerp

Source: Terminal photo from PSA Antwerp.

Europa Terminal in the port of Antwerp is managed by the terminal operator PSA (Port of Singapore Authority) and is one of the seven major container terminal complexes within the port. It is a good example of the modal separation in space that characterizes modern container terminals and the large handhold required for various container terminal operations. While terminal space reserved for rail and truck operations is directly adjacent to the buffer (container storage) of deepsea services, locational constraints have placed the barge terminal in a nearby location behind the locks linking the port’s basin (upper part) to the river Scheldt (lower part). The issue is to effectively manage the different modal requirements in terms of capacity and frequency of each component of the terminal to ensure an adequate level of service.