<p data-path-to-node="5">Demonstrating resilience across European short-sea and feeder trade corridors, cross-border port authority <b data-path-to-node="5" data-index-in-node="140">North Sea Port&nbsp;</b>spanning Ghent in Belgium alongside Terneuzen and Vlissingen in the Netherlands has registered a <b data-path-to-node="5" data-index-in-node="252">13% increase</b> in container cargo throughput.</p><p data-path-to-node="6">The volume surge highlights the port's expanding role as a major European regional distribution hub, driven by strong short-sea shipping connections, optimized barge networks, and growing reefer container handling across its multimodal terminals.</p><h3 data-path-to-node="8"><b data-path-to-node="8" data-index-in-node="0">Multimodal Connectivity, Reefer Cargo Growth, and Network Strategy</b></h3><p data-path-to-node="9">The positive volume trajectory reflects strategic investments across North Sea Port’s multimodal infrastructure:</p><ul data-path-to-node="10"><li><p data-path-to-node="10,0,0"><b data-path-to-node="10,0,0" data-index-in-node="0">Short-Sea and Feeder Expansion:</b> The 13% container growth was primarily anchored by expanded short-sea shipping loops connecting the port to the UK, Scandinavia, and the Baltic region, serving as a flexible alternative to congested deep-sea megaports.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="10,1,0"><b data-path-to-node="10,1,0" data-index-in-node="0">Inland Waterway and Rail Logistics:</b> Over 50% of the port's containerized cargo is evacuated via inland barges and rail freight, lowering road congestion and offering low-carbon supply chain routing into the European hinterland.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="10,2,0"><b data-path-to-node="10,2,0" data-index-in-node="0">Temperature-Controlled Logistics:</b> Increased reefer container traffic, particularly for agricultural products, food processing sectors, and perishables, contributed significantly to higher box volumes across Vlissingen and Ghent terminals.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="10,3,0"><b data-path-to-node="10,3,0" data-index-in-node="0">Industrial Port Synergies:</b> The port's integrated industrial cluster housing major manufacturing, chemical, and steel facilities continues to drive stable two-way containerized raw material and finished product flows.</p></li></ul>