North Sea channels

Client
Dutch port areas must always be accessible to shipping. On the instructions of Rijkswaterstaat, Van Oord is ensuring that a number of North Sea channels have the required depth.

Work
The project concerns a three-year contract involving two plots. The first plot involves maintaining the Maasgeul, Eurogeul and IJgeul channels. These are the North Sea entrance channels that provide access for shipping to the Rotterdam and Amsterdam port areas. The Maasgeul channel will also be widened. Moreover, this contract offers the opportunity for marine sand extraction in the North Sea. The second plot involves maintaining channels from the harbour entrance near IJmuiden up to the locks. It is of vital importance for shipping that these channels always have the correct depth to ensure access to the port of Amsterdam. The exploitation of the Fortput sandpit is part of this contract.

Results
Careful maintenance of the channels ensures the required depth so even the largest sea-going vessels can enter Dutch ports. The extracted sea sand will be used as a construction material for infrastructural projects.

Additional information
If you have any questions regarding this project, please send an e-mail to baggerengeulennoordzee@vanoord.com