Progress made on new sea lock for Port of Amsterdam

Now that the finance agreement is in place, a study is due to be launched into construction of a new lock system. The current lock complex, allowing vessels to transit from the North Sea to the Port of Amsterdam, consists of four lock units. The largest, known as the Noordersluis lock, sees over 80% of all cargo for Amsterdam. With a breadth of 45m, the lock is now too narrow for many of today’s larger container and bulk cargo vessels, and over recent years the port region has grown at such a rate that the capacity of the lock complex has reached its limit. The Noordersluis lock was constructed in 1929 and is due for replacement in the next 20 years. It is the wish of administrators and regional business interests to have a new, larger lock by 2016.

The cost of the new locks has been estimated at in excess of €700m (assuming a lock complex that is 500m in length, 65m wide and with a depth of 18m). It will take about three years to confirm the dimensions of the new lock, its location, the most efficient construction method, and whether environmental demands will be met.