Liege

Size limits

Max LOA 110m, beam 13.50m, draught 3.4m and 4,003DWT.

Water density

1000.

Load line zone

North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.

Tides

Nil.

Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.

Anchorages

Anchorage is possible in Antwerp Roads, on the River Scheldt.

Restrictions

Depth of water on the River Meuse varies between 2.2m and 3.4m, from the Ougree Bridge to the entrance of the Albert Canal. The Monsin Lock and the Albert Canal have a depth of 3.4m. Bridges on the canal and river have airdraught restrictions of 6.7m and 6.4m respectively.

Tugs

Available. Tugs are not compulsory at Liege except when the river is in spate.

Mooring

No special requirements.

Charts and publications

Admiralty Pilot NP28, NP286(1).

ETA and pre-arrival notices

ETA should be advised at least 6 hours prior to arrival at the pilot station and again when 2 hours from the pilot station. The message should include: Name, callsign, flag, port of destination, ETA at pilot station in UTC, draught in metres and centimetres, cargo (with IMO identification if applicable), agent and dimensions (GT, LOA, Beam).

Communications

Surrounding Locks contact info

VHF: 14 (Monsin), 18 (Ampsin, Lanaye), 22 (Ivoz-Ramet)

Liege Port Authority contact info

Telephone: +32 42 32 97 97

Facsimile: +32 42 23 11 09

Email: [email protected]

Standard messages

None, except for vessels with draught restrictions which will be advised of river tidal levels.

Notice of readiness

Normally tendered on arrival as per agents requirements.

Documents

The documents are handed to immigration and customs via the vessel's agent.

Health

Free pratique is granted on arrival.

Ship Sanitation Control Certificates and Exemption Certificates can be renewed at Antwerp.

Customs and immigration

Immigration: Check validity of all vessel's documents. Non EU citizens (passengers) should have a valid visa. There are no restrictions on crew providing they are not signing off. All formalities are handled at anchor at Antwerp Roads.

Flags

No special requirements.

Notices and regulations

Scrubbers: In Belgium, the European Commission’s 2016 note on discharge of scrubber washwater, bans the discharge in ports and inland waters. Relevant legislation is “Wet van 26 maart 1971 op de bescherming van de oppervlaktewateren tegen verontreiniging (Vlaams Gewest)”.

For information regarding regulations for Belgian navigation, contact: MET. DG 2 - IG 25 - D 251 Direction de la navigation, Rue Canal de l'Ourthe 9, boite 1, B-4031, Angleur,

Tel: +32 4 367 7048, Fax: +32 4 367 7161.

Port State Control here: Paris MOU.

Running now: the Paris and Tokyo MOU concentrated inspection campaign on cargo securing, 1 September to 30 November 2026. Its questions are published: the questionnaire.

ISPS

ISPS Designated Authority: Federal Port Security Committee.

Position: Chairman

Address: Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport, DG Maritime Transport, Aarlenstraat 104, B-1040, Brussels, Belgium.

Tel: +32 2 233 1279

Fax: +32 2 230 1969

Mob: +32 475 818465

Email: [email protected]

For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org

Information required by the ISPS Code should be sent, as follows:

1. E-mail: [email protected]

2. Facsimile: 32-579-68-83

The following information should be sent 24 hours prior to arrival at a Belgian port:

1. Ship's name.

2. IMO number.

3. Flag.

4. INMARSAT/GSM number.

5. Port facility of destination.

6. ETA.

7. Port ID number.

8. UN Locator number.

9. Assigned port facility number.

10. Availability of ISSC or Interim ISSC (state Yes or No).

11. Date of expiration of ISSC or Interim ISSC (in format of YYYY/MM/DD).

12. Issuing authority of ISSC or Interim ISSC.

13. Security level ship is currently operating at (Level 1,Level 2, or Level 3 with reason(s), if known).

14. Last ten ports of call and Security Level at which the ship operated.

15. For the last ten ports of call have any special security measures been taken during ship/port interface (state Yes or No)?

16. Within the period of the last ten calls at port facilities, has the ship conducted ship-to-ship activities and were the appropriate

ship security procedures maintained (state Yes or No)?

17. Is there any other security-related information (state Yes or No)?

If the transit time from the previous port is less than 24 hours, the required information should be sent when leaving the previous port.

Repairs

Available at Batia Mosa Shipyard. Facilities include a shipbuilding and repair facility.

Dry docks

General repairs, conversions and shipbuilding constructions are available.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available at selected Sub-ports.

Medical

Nearest hospital: Hospital De La Citadelle (CHR) (3.3km), Hospital Citadelle (5.6km), CHC Montlegia Clinic (6.4km) and Chu of Liege (9.95km).

Further medical centres and facilities are located throughout the city.

Crew change

Crew change is possible. There are no special regulations.

Transport

Nearest airport: Liege Airport (12.3km) and Brussels Airport (85km).

Nearest railway: Bressoux Train Station (1.6km), Liege-Carre (4.7km) and Liege-Guillemins (5.35km). Further train stations are located throughout the city.

Nearest highway: The port has direct access to European Routes E25 and E40. European Route E25 runs N-S from Hook, Netherlands in the N to Palermo, Italy in the S. European Route E40, the longest European route, travels 8,641km from Calais, France in the W to Ridder, Kazakhstan in the E.

Nearest public transport: Bus routes throughout the city.

Working hours

The port authority operates shifts from 0600-2200hrs.

Where it is

Liege is the largest inland port in Belgium, situated approx 120nm inland of the North Sea from Antwerp, at the end of the Albert Canal.

The port

Liege is an inland port covering 382ha of land and comprises of 33 sub-ports along 27km of the Meuse and Albert Canal. The 33 port areas are managed and under the umbrella of Liege Port Authority which are given to private companies that are responsible for handling port operations. A vast number of cargoes are handled along the Meuse and Albert Canal including: containerised cargo, dry bulk, breakbulk, liquid and steel products. Liege is supported with transportation links for transhipment to inland Europe including the E25 highway and several rail links.

As of 2024, developments are being made at Liege Trilogiport to cater for a larger number of containerised cargo. The concept for the area is to include an improved trimodal container terminal (15ha), logistics area supported with covered storage (41.7ha), port land (22ha), tertiary service area (1.8ha) and environmental integration zone (25ha).

Traffic

Approx 12,500,000t of cargo, 76,000TEU, 8,000 vessels and 613,000t of coal handled annually.

What are the pilot arrangements at Liege?

Compulsory to Antwerp for all seagoing vessels, except for vessels in ballast drawing less than 2.2m.

What time zone is Liege in?

Local time at Liege is UTC+1. Clocks go to UTC+2 on 28 Mar 2027. Back to UTC+1 on 31 Oct 2027.

What is the maximum draft at Liege?

The deepest berth listed is at Somef Terminal (Monsin): 3.40 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Liege?

1000.

Which load line zone is Liege in?

North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.

Who carries out Port State Control at Liege?

Port State Control at Liege: Paris MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Liege?

The UN/LOCODE of Liege is BELGG.

What crews who called at Liege say: pilot boarding, the agent's papers, inspections, shore leave. Each tip is shown with the writer's rank and ship type, and an AI summary sits on top once there are three or more.

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