IJmuiden preparing to construct new sea lock

 

MUMBAI/AMSTERDAM: The Port of Amsterdam has shown a modest increase in the first half and the second for 2012-13. Due to the new developments happening at the Port, the Amsterdam’s Municipal has recently decided to allow the preparation to go ahead in order to construct a new sea lock in IJmuiden. This sea lock would replace the current Noordersluis lock (1929).

 

In the first half of 2012 the Amsterdam Seaports (these are the ports along the North Sea Canal Area) witnessed a slight increase in transhipment (approx. 0.5%).  Until June 2012 the Port region’s total transhipment amounted to more than 46 million tonnes. These are the interim figures for 2012, representing a 0.5% increase compared to the same period last year. The port region began to recover in 2010 and continues to do so steadily.

 

 The Amsterdam port witnessed a 1.5% increase in the first six months. The Imports increased by 1 per cent reaching 25 million tonnes and exports edged by 2 per cent reaching 13 million tonnes. The liquid bulk transhipment increased by approximately 2% to 21 million tons, mainly because of the additional transhipment of oil products at Vopak’s new terminal and the dry bulk transhipment remained steady at 15 million tonnes.  The Container transhipment and the transhipment of general cargo increased by 12% to 1.6 million tonnes.

 

Port of Amsterdam’s CEO Dertje Meijer stated that, ”We are extremely proud that  the Amsterdam port region has booked positive results. A few relevant sectors are still sensing the crisis, although the port should be able to benefit from the modest financial recovery expected in the near future. We owe this growth to oil products in particular. These figures mean we are the fourth port in Europe, after Rotterdam, Antwerp and Hamburg.”

 

The Port of Amsterdam is the fourth port in Europe with sustainable growth being its key ambition. Growth ensuring jobs and incomes whereby the port uses the available space efficiently. The overall growth is possible without damaging the quality of the water, soil and air, so these results have been appreciated by the people of Amsterdam which will make the port to move forward even more. These are the Port’s ambitions based on intensive cooperation with partners in the business community, city and region.

 

Transhipping important streams of goodsLiquid bulk transhipment increased by approximately 2 per cent to 21 million tonnes, mainly because of the additional transhipment of oil products at Vopak's new terminal.

 

Dry bulk transhipment remained steady at 15 million tonnes.

 

*In this segment, pit coal transhipment increased by 9 per cent.

 

*Transhipment of agricultural bulk declined by 8 per cent.

 

*Transhipment of construction materials declined by 16 per cent.

 

Container transhipment and the transhipment of general cargo increased by 12 per cent to 1.6 million tonnes.

 

*Cargo container transhipment increased by 40 per cent (34,000 TEUs).

 

*Car transhipment and the transhipment of other RoRo declined by 12 per cent.

 

*General cargo transhipment increased by 15 per cent.

 

Sea cruise activities intensified, reaching 64 calls (+10 per cent).

 

Other ports in the region In the first six months of 2012, transhipment in IJmuiden declined by approximately 2 per cent compared to the same period last year, down to 8.1 million tonnes.

 

Transhipment in Beverwijk declined by approximately 26 per cent to 107,000 tonnes.

 

Transhipment in Zaanstad declined by approximately 27 per cent to 48,000 tonnes.

 

IJmuiden’s sea lock on its way Amsterdam’s Municipal Council recently decided to allow preparations for the construction of a new large sea lock in IJmuiden. It will replace the current Noordersluis lock (1929).

 

As per the plans, the new sea lock will be 500 metres long, 65 metres wide and 18 metres deep. The Noordersluis should manage until 2029; however, the Municipality of Amsterdam seeks to speed up construction for which it will contribute 130 million euros.

 

AccessibilityThe new lock should be ready in 2019, and is expected to be tested a year earlier. Construction (estimated cost: 848 million euros) is scheduled to start in 2015.

 

The sea lock should make the Amsterdam port region more accessible. As far as port alderman Mr Freek Ossel is concerned, the sea lock is crucial to the Amsterdam port region. This ‘access gate’ will help protect and increase jobs and meet market demands in the next century.

 

Port of Amsterdam is represented in India by Samsara Group.