In a statement issued by the port, Hans Smits, Port of Rotterdam Authority CEO said, 'The fact that there are three consortia in the race means there is healthy competition.

I therefore expect a lot of creativity in the design process, followed by competitive prices.'

Last summer, the port authority went in search of parties able to implement the first contract for the construction of the 2,000 ha port expansion in the North Sea.

The estimated total cost of the ?2.9bn, with the first contract being worth about a third that value.

The construction of Maasvlakte 2 will be tendered as a 'design and construct' contract, with two approaches sought to the way that the work could be carried out, a so-called basic solution and a 'total solution.'

The basic solution covers the construction of the hard seawall (dyke), digging through the current Maasvlakte 1 seawall on a level with theYangtzehaven, the construction of the soft sea defense (artificial dunes) and the creation of Maasvlakte 2 itself.

The more extensive 'total' solution also involves the construction of the public infrastructure (some 10km of highway and railroad), construction of the first quay walls (approximately 1,000m) and maintenance work on the sea defences.

The Port Authority is waiting to see what price the three consortia come up with before deciding whether to go for the basic work package or the total package, and hopes that in will be in a position to award a contract during the course of 2007 so that construction can start in the spring of 2008.