The port is a world of dockers, seafarers and port services, where people work hard day and night. With the nearby ports of Rotterdam, Hamburg and Le Havre, the Belgian ports must rely above all on the speed of loading and unloading, as well as the additional services they provide. Dockers are no longer rough, uncouth men carrying heavy loads on their shoulders. Container traffic requires skilled workers above all else.
The rat race continues on board the ships, too, for captains, engineers and seamen alike. Voyage times are getting shorter, as are the intervals between them. High-tech ships are increasingly being crewed by international teams. Meanwhile, sea fishermen are facing difficult times, but there are growing opportunities in inland waterway transport. Countless services and organisations are joining forces to ensure these operations run smoothly, including pilots, waterway clerks, harbour masters, traffic controllers, maritime police and customs. Voyage times are getting shorter, as are the intervals between them. High-tech ships are increasingly being crewed by international teams. Meanwhile, sea fishermen are facing difficult times, but there are growing opportunities in inland waterway transport. To this end, countless services and organisations are joining forces, including pilots, waterway clerks, harbour masters, traffic controllers, maritime police and customs officers.
