MARITIME SERVICES
Safe berthing and unberthing since 1923 De Eendracht takes care of the safe mooring and unmooring of vessels in the Ghent port area. This activity already dates back to 1885, with boatmen helping sailing vessels with safe berthing and unberthing. A lot has changed since those days though.
“Mooring and unmooring has always been an important activity in the port area, as this contributes to safe traffic in the docks and the Ghent-Terneuzen Canal”, says Alain van Gelderen, General Manager of De Eendracht. “In the nineteenth century various people provided boatmen services, but in 1923 all activities were legally combined into one company: De Eendracht (meaning unity).” De Eendracht today still remains a company with limited liability, with eight partners of which each person has a specific responsibility. Mr Van Gelderen is one of them. “In our organisation, this partnership is still a family matter for all partners. I started my career at De Eendracht as boatman in 1987 and after some years succeeded my father as shareholder. We have thus been always a privately-owned company.”
Wheelman Soon after the establishment of De Eendracht, activities were expanded with the supply of wheelmen. Mr Van Gelderen 8 I PortNews
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