The Breeddiep, an important connection for inland shipping at the mouth of the Port of Rotterdam, is to be widened from 75 to 350 meters.
The investment of around €16 million is in line with the policy of the commissioning parties – the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment and the Port of Rotterdam Authority – to improve the hinterland connections by water and make them more efficient.
Around 50,000 ships a year, mainly inland vessels, make use of the connection between the Caland Canal and the Nieuwe Waterweg opposite Hoek van Holland. The widening operations will calm the current and substantially increase the capacity.
More popular
The Breeddiep is a 75-meter wide connection between the Splitsingsdam, built in 1969, and the Rozenburg Peninsula.
Due to the current and the restricted visibility, only one-way traffic is possible at present, under the supervision of the Hoek van Holland Traffic Center.
The connection is becoming increasingly popular, because the Hartel Canal – the main artery for inland shipping traffic – has a height restriction for ships loaded with 4 layers of containers, depending on the water level.
Schedule
The costs will be shared equally between the Government and the Port Authority. Preparations for the widening operations are already underway.
At the end of the year, a contractor will be selected. The plan is to complete the widening operations by the end of 2016.
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