Since December 2025, Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) have been operational on the canal. With five new radar posts, updated VHF radio installations, and an adapted traffic control center, traffic controllers now have a more complete and reliable overview of shipping traffic on the Flemish section of the canal.
The Scheldaradar Chain, which has supported safe shipping guidance in the Scheldt region for 35 years, had less radar detection on the Ghent-Terneuzen Canal. The new radar posts have eliminated the last blind spots, allowing for precise traffic monitoring day and night.
Communication between nautical partners has also received a significant boost. The traffic control center in Zelzate has become an official VTS post and underwent a thorough renovation with adapted operational workstations. These investments enhance traffic guidance, making it safer, more efficient, and better prepared for the future.
This extensive expansion and update is the result of close collaboration between Flanders, the Netherlands, and Europe. The project started in 2022 and was led on Flemish territory by MDK, with important support from the Dutch Rijkswaterstaat and the European Commission (CINEA).
The Ghent-Terneuzen Canal, connecting North Sea Port in Ghent to the Western Scheldt and the North Sea, will become even busier with the New Lock in Terneuzen and the further development of the Seine-Scheldt connection. The expanded Scheldaradar Chain is essential to safely manage this growth.
