Port of Antwerp tightens regulations regarding byloads inside second-hand vehicles

Around 300,000 second-hand vehicles are shipped via the Port of Antwerp each year and around 80% of those vehicles are carrying byloads on board. From sector consultations last year, the existing regulations and checks carried out on these byloads were found to be no longer sufficient as a means of limiting the potential risks and of guaranteeing safety at the terminals and on board vessels. Therefore, the regulations for the shipment of byloads inside second-hand vehicles have already been amended in September 2019.

Those amended rules certainly brought about an improvement, but various measurements have shown that additional steps will be needed in order to achieve a sustainable, safe and secure method for the processing and transportation of second-hand vehicles. For that reason, it was decided that from 1 January 2021 onwards, the regulations would become even stricter than before. From that date onwards, second-hand cars and small vans will no longer be permitted to have any byloads on board. Byloads will be permitted in the case of larger vans, trucks and trailers, but the maximum permitted weight of the vehicle must not be exceeded and in compliance with all relevant legislation and regulations.

Two major players handling and loading second-hand vehicles have taken the initiative to proactively adapt their policies. With immediate effect, Sallaum Lines will no longer accept byloads into second-hand vehicles, with the exception of trucks. Grimaldi Lines will not accept cars, small and large vans with byloads at Antwerp Euroterminal (AET) as of 8 December 2020 and this will be extended to their European network.

Luc Arnouts, Director International Relations & Networks: “Sustainability and safety are our priority and it is in order to guarantee both sustainability and security that we found it necessary to introduce these more stringent rules. They will enable the checks carried out by the competent authorities to ensure compliance with the regulations governing the transportation of byloadsin second-hand vehicles to be conducted in a more targeted and efficient way."

Annick De Ridder, Port Alderman: “The second-hand vehicles market segment is very close to our hearts in Antwerp and as a port, we have been leaders in that sector for decades. It is important that regulation is dealt with internationally. Antwerp sets the tone, but we would like to emphasise that the level playing field must be maintained and that consultation with other European ports is therefore also taking place."

David Van Ballaert, Managing Director at Sallaum Lines Belgium: “In order to ensure that the flow of this type of goods in Africa doesn't come to a standstill, we are happy to contribute towards making exports of this type of goods more sustainable in terms of security and verifiability.”