THE Port of Rotterdam Authority is investing EUR15 million (US$18.5 million) in a project to renovate, redesign and expand the existing 'Heavy Lift Centre' for the storage and handling of heavy and bulky freight from the energy and offshore industry sector, project cargo.

The work on the centre for heavy cargo that is located within the eastern section of the RDM site in the Waalhaven has already started with the demolition of some dilapidated sheds. The work is expected to continue until the third quarter of 2014.

The port authority is working with the Broekman Group on the project. It said in a statement that Broekman hopes the redeveloped centre will meet the growing demand from the energy sector for storage and handling of heavy objects in well-equipped sheds with modern overhead cranes.

Covered assembly space will also soon be available which will give added value to the activities. The space for outside storage will be enlarged for the sizeable objects and the centre will also have a more efficient layout, new heavy foundations and paving.

The redesigned 'Heavy Lift Centre' will comprise four modernised high halls with a total of around 16,000 square metres of space and overhead cranes with a lifting capacity of 75 to 700 tonnes; an outside space of around 26,000 metres square; a 300-metre quay with a draught of 10.5 metres at which cargo items of up to 1,800 tonnes can be handled; and sheds of 4,000 metres square directly on the quay.