What is the Liege Port Authority ?

The leading inland port in Belgium and the third largest one in Europe, the Liege Port Authority, a body that operates in the public interest, oversees the management of 31 port areas along the river Meuse and the Albert Canal, covering a total surface area of 369 hectares.

What are the tasks of the Liege Port Authority ?

The Liege Port Authority manages, develops, equips and markets its port areas so as to make them available for investors.

What are the assets of the Liege Port Authority ?

Beautifully situated at the centre of the Rhine – Escaut – Meuse navigation system (20,000 km), the Port of Liege is able to enjoy three access routes to the sea:

• the Albert Canal linking Liege to Antwerp, the second leading European port, and to Rotterdam, the leading European port and the world's third largest port ;
• the Meuse and the Juliana Canal providing access to Rotterdam;
• the east-west corridor for reaching Dunkirk.

The Port of Liege is particularly well equipped (one hectare covered dock, container terminal, ro-ro ship quay,…) for loading, unloading, storing and handling all kinds of goods.

The Liege Port Authority is a key player in the Liege economy and the sustainable development process.

What are the environmental challenges?

Silent, reliable and cost-effective in terms of energy, river transport can offer a relevant alternative to urban congestion and environmental challenges.

At a time when the authorities are coming down hard on those wasting energy and are struggling to deal with the congestion of our road networks, river transport and combined inland waterway and seagoing systems appear to offer an effective solution.

For example, did you know that a barge can accommodate between 30 and 50 lorries ?

Who can set up a business on an Liege Port Authority site?

Any investor who is approved by the Liege Port Authority's Board of Directors.

What procedures have to be completed to be able to use an Liege Port Authority site?

Companies or investors anxious to set-up on an Liege Port Authority site have to present the Liege Port Authority authorities with a project, including the level of investments, the jobs created, the anticipated waterway tonnages, etc.

Who should I get in touch with for details about the available sites managed by the Liege Port Authority ?

Anne-Sylvie Lonnoy, Attaché with the Economic and Commercial Department,
Tel : +32 4 232 97 95
E-mail : as.lonnoy@portdeliege.be

What are the different types of contracts ?

There are three types of contracts providing an entitlement to occupy the sites or use the quay walls managed by the Liege Port Authority :

1. concession contract,
2. precarious authorisation,
3. authorisation to undertake individual operations.

What is a marina ?

A marina is a tourist port accommodating pleasure crafts for a few days or on a permanent basis. Located a short distance from the city‘s historical centre, the Liege marina provides various services including : a supply of water, electricity, full sanitation facilities, telephone, cable distribution, street lighting and a parking area. The Port captain's office now offers pleasure craft operators wireless Internet access (Wifi).

See the Yacht Harbour page for further details.

What are the lock opening hours?

The lock opening hours vary according to the inland waterways and the seasons. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport‘s Directorate-General for Waterways has posted a summary table of these times on the following site: voies-hydrauliques.Wallonia.be

How do you get in touch with the locks?

The telephone numbers and the maritime mobile radiotelephone of all the engineering works officials are available for consultation on the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport ‘s Directorate-General for Waterways at the following address : voies-hydrauliques.wallonie.be

How high are the navigation dues in Wallonia ?

It was announced on 7 March 2006 that navigation dues were being axed for all inland waterways managed by the Walloon Region. However, a movement permit (travel N°) is still required to be able to travel and this applies to all types of vessels, whether they be merchant or pleasure vessels, even if no engineering structure is used. For further details about the sailing conditions, see the following page : voies-hydrauliques.wallonie.be

Where do I find information about looking for a location to place my liveonboard barge?

The Liege Port Authority does not provide locations for liveonboard barges. The Navigation Directorate D.252 (Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport) will be delighted to provide the information you require.

Address : Canal de l'Ourthe, 9/1
4031 ANGLEUR
Tel. : +32 4 231 65 00
Fax : +32 4 231 65 71

How do you register a vessel ?

The Liege Port Authority does not deal with vessel registrations. We advise you to get in touch with the Federal Mobility and Transport Department - Navigation Inspection Department
La Batte, 10, Bte 2
4000 Liege
Tel : +32 4 222 01 49
Fax : +32 4 220 02 13
E-mail : guichetunique.liege@mobilit.fgov.be

What is a barge?

A barge is a boat with a flat bottom designed for travelling on rivers and canals carrying goods, generally dry goods, stored in a standard hold.

What is a pusher craft ?

A pusher craft is designed for propelling barges in convoys. Push-towing is a river transport system originating in the United States.

What is a push lighter ?

A push lighter is a non-motorised river transport unit. It has a box with an opening on the top for carrying bulk goods. Several push lighters coupled and attached end to end form a convoy. Various types of goods, such as cars, containers, coal and chemicals may be carried by push lighter.
Source : www.vnf.fr

What is a dock ?

A dock is a rectangular port basin mainly used for mooring vessels.

What is a " twenty equivalent unit " (TEU) ?

A twenty equivalent unit (TEU) is a measuring unit equal to the space occupied by a standard 20 foot container. This unit is used to express the capacity of the container carriers or warehousing space. A 40-foot container is equal to two TEU.

One TEU is 20 feet x 8 feet x 8 feet
This is equal to : 6.20 m x 2.50 m x 2.50 m.

Where can you have a cruise on the Meuse ?

Various river cruises are organised in the Liege region.

See the river cruises page for further details.

• Do you need a permit to sail in Wallonia ?
• Do I have to register my vessel and if I do, where ?
• Do I need a tax disk to be able to sail in Wallonia ?
• Where can I put a craft in the water?
• What can I use as fuel for my craft?

As well as being in charge of promoting the carriage of goods by river-borne systems the Inland Waters Promotion Office site is also tasked with publicising river tourism infrastructures. The site can answer any questions you may have about river tourism in Wallonia: www.opvn.be