The government has taken responsibility for creating a limited company licensed to carry out the phased creation of the outer dykes and port entrance, which could then be progressively infilled according to demand. Chemicals and container handling would feature prominently at the new Massvlakte II facilities, which could be fully developed by 2012.

The project will allocate some 1,000 hectares for port and industrial use with another 750 hectares set aside for recreational use, some of which may be in the port area but away from Massvlakte II.

The project could be timely for the major Dutch and Belgian dredging contractors, who have invested heavily in the new generation of 'jumbo' trailing suction hopper dredgers over the last six years. These vessels, with massive hopper capacities of from 17,000 to 33,000m 3, are designed specifically for large scale land reclamation projects such as those presently underway in Hong Kong and Singapore.

Should further major works in the Far East not be immediately forthcoming, a return to Europe and Maasvlakte II would be an ideal next deployment for these vessels.