Flemish Agency for Maritime Services and Coast

The Agentschap voor Maritieme Dienstverlening en Kust (MDK) (the Agency for Maritime Services and for the Coast) of the Flemish authorities sees to the smooth and safe shipping traffic to and from the Flemish ports. MDK is responsible for the securing of the Flemish Coast against floods and works for the integrated and sustainable management of the coastal zone.

Its core task comprises three strategic objectives :

• Optimising cost-efficient services to the shipping traffic in order to facilitate the smooth and safe shipping traffic to the Flemish sea ports.
• Initiating and supporting assistance in order to safeguard and protect the public domain, next to primary rescues at sea.
• Implementing a seawall programme in order to protect the population against floods, thereby taking into account the other social functions of the coastal zone.