THE 13,000-TEU Maersk Enfield has called at the Port of Antwerp on its maiden voyage en route to Felixstowe, England, the first time the Danish shipping giant has docked a ship of this size the freshly dredged inland Belgian port.

The increase in scale is said by port authorities to reflect the great confidence that the Port of Antwerp "inspires" following completion of the third round of deepening of the River Scheldt.

"The deepening has turned out to be a commercial success. We are now a top-level player, with the largest container lines in the world placing their confidence in Antwerp," said Marc Van Peel, port alderman and chairman of the port authority.

Scheldt dredging provides a low-tide 13.10-metre depth with high tide providing 15.5 metres, an improvement of the 2009 high-tide maximum of 14 metres. Thanks to the deepening, shipping companies can now load an additional 1,500 TEU on board their vessels when calling at Antwerp.

The Permanent Commission for Scheldt Navigation will continue to review the conditions for port access. In the meantime it is investigating the possibility of reducing the keel room percentage when passing the "thresholds" on the way to the sea.