The subject of the contract is the execution of a preparatory project study on the further upgrading of the Ghent-Ostend canal, from the junction with the Diversion Canal of the Leie in Schipdonk to the Plassendale bridge in Ostend. The purpose of this upgrade is to make the canal suitable for double-lane shipping traffic of CEMT class Va and container shipping on three layers. An exception to this is the canal section at the level of the Bruges crossing (between Steenbruggebrug and Scheepsdalebrug), where only single-lane shipping traffic of CEMT class Va (with passing lanes), crossings of loaded ships of CEMT class IV and container shipping on three layers must be provided.

In addition to a thorough analysis of the nautical and infrastructural aspects of the proposed upgrade, the preparatory project study referred to here also includes an integrated study of its expected effects and implications in all relevant domains, such as economics, spatial planning, mobility, heritage, water management (quantitative and qualitative), ecology (fauna and flora, biodiversity), landscape and the relationship with living and working environments.

The project study must enable De Vlaamse Waterweg NV to gain sufficient insight into the feasibility of the intended upgrading of the Ghent-Ostend canal (economically, financially, technically, project-based and procedurally) and must result in a concrete and realistic step-by-step plan for its further preparation and implementation, being the project plan with, among other things, programme definition (scope determination, solutions), project estimation and phasing, permit process, further research and study programme, all within the general framework of the establishment of the overarching Seine-Scheldt connection.

The subject of the contract is the execution of a preparatory project study on the further upgrading of the Ghent-Ostend canal, from the junction with the Diversion Canal of the Leie in Schipdonk to the Plassendale bridge in Ostend. The purpose of this upgrade is to make the canal suitable for double-lane shipping traffic of CEMT class Va and container shipping on three layers. An exception to this is the canal section at the level of the Bruges crossing (between Steenbruggebrug and Scheepsdalebrug), where only single-lane shipping traffic of CEMT class Va (with passing lanes), crossings of loaded ships of CEMT class IV and container shipping on three layers must be provided.

In addition to a thorough analysis of the nautical and infrastructural aspects of the proposed upgrade, the preparatory project study referred to here also includes an integrated study of its expected effects and implications in all relevant domains, such as economics, spatial planning, mobility, heritage, water management (quantitative and qualitative), ecology (fauna and flora, biodiversity), landscape and the relationship with living and working environments.

The project study must enable De Vlaamse Waterweg NV to gain sufficient insight into the feasibility of the intended upgrading of the Ghent-Ostend canal (economically, financially, technically, project-based and procedurally) and must result in a concrete and realistic step-by-step plan for its further preparation and implementation, being the project plan with, among other things, programme definition (scope determination, solutions), project estimation and phasing, permit process, further research and study programme, all within the general framework of the establishment of the overarching Seine-Scheldt connection.