Construction of Europe's first multi-storage for vehicles officially launched

ICO provides European first in Zeebrugge

New standard for vehicle logistics

The multi-storage comes on a site of just under 2.5 acres and will accommodate 10,120 vehicles. This expansion will allow ICO to increase its annual throughput from 2.5 million to 3 million vehicles. The project is scheduled for completion by the end of 2027.

What makes the project special is its extensive automation. Ten fully automated cranes will ensure that vehicles are stored and retrieved without manual intervention. The system will be housed in two separate buildings, with a staggered crane structure specially designed with (fire) safety and accessibility for emergency services in mind.

Technology to leverage efficiency and sustainability

Through VIN recognition, vehicles are automatically identified and correctly stored. The whole thing is integrated with ICO's existing Terminal Operating System (TOS), allowing all movements to be tracked in real time.

The new storage solution is not only efficient, but also sustainable. By stocking vehicles more compactly and greatly reducing and automating the number of internal movements, energy consumption and emissions are reduced. The required surface area is more than 10 times smaller compared to traditional storage on open compound. As such, the project fits within the broader sustainability ambitions of ICO and the Port of Antwerp-Zeebrugge.

Importance for port and region

According to Alain Guillemyn, Managing Director of ICO, it's about more than just infrastructure. “This is an important moment for our company as well as for the port. With this project we show that Zeebrugge is a place where innovation on a large scale is possible. We are investing not only in capacity, but also in technology that will prepare our sector for the future.”

The arrival of the multi-storage reinforces Zeebrugge's attractiveness to international car manufacturers and logistics players, confirming the port as a crucial link in the European automotive chain.

Strong cooperation between Belgian partners

The project is realized thanks to a close cooperation between specialized, Belgian partners. As main contractor, Alheembouw is coordinating the entire execution of the works and ensuring an efficient and qualitative realization of this complex project. Stow Group takes care of the entire steel construction of the high-rise, including the innovative rack system in which the vehicles are stored. Ceratec is responsible for the automation of this rack system, allowing vehicles to be placed in and out of the system fully automatically. Architect Stranger AE and engineering firm BM Engineering Group provided the architectural, stability and engineering design.

When the facility becomes operational in late 2027, Zeebrugge will have a unique logistics infrastructure that significantly raises the bar for vehicle storage and handling in Europe.