Safe and efficient lightening at the Westerscheldt
Ships en route to the ports of Vlissingen, Terneuzen, Ghent, or Antwerp that have too much draft to reach these ports are allowed to be lightened on the Western Scheldt.
OVET offers this unique service with its floating cranes.
Each year, OVET lightens over 100 ships on the Western Scheldt, ensuring they can safely continue their journey to their destination port at the required draft.
When ships need to be lightened, they first sail up the Western Scheldt at high tide and anchor at a designated location. OVET carries out the lightening operation in such a way that the required amount of cargo is transferred from the seagoing vessel to inland vessels or smaller seagoing ships, in order to reach the requested draft. Depending on the product, approximately 15.000 tons can be lightened during a single tide. The flexible nature of our floating cranes, combined with the specific requirements of the cargo and the seagoing vessel, is a key factor in this process.
"You don't want the ship to miss the tide."
When Dave is asked about his job at OVET, he says, “I have the highest position here.” Then he laughs. As a crane operator, Dave works at a height of 35 meters. “The view from up here is magnificent.”
Dave operates one of the four mobile floating cranes and travels everywhere: Vlissingen, Terneuzen, Sluiskil, the Western Scheldt. “It’s a free kind of life,” he says. His work is varied: besides operating the crane, he also maintains it, and since floating cranes are towed by tugboats, his job also involves nautical work and skills as well.
Almost every day, he experiences something memorable, but the most impressive moments for him are the unloading operations of sea vessels on the Western Scheldt. “When such a ship drops anchor, the mobile floating cranes and push barges moor alongside it,” Dave explains. “Everything comes into play – especially tight planning, because you don’t want the ship to miss the tide. Even a half-hour delay can affect the unloading.” Dave, who has been working at OVET since 2006, knows the company culture well: “Roll up your sleeves, work hard. After all, we’re in the harbor!”
