Rotterdam's Port advances Yangtzekanaal widening for 24,000 TEU vessels, enhancing capacity and access for ultra-large container ships.
The Port of Rotterdam has completed the first stage and begun the second phase of widening the Yangtzekanaal to accommodate the next generation of 24,000 TEU container vessels, reported Singapore's Splash 247.
The consortium of Hakkers, De Klerk, and Van Oord built a new tugboat quay with 12 berths and shore power facilities, widening the south side of the channel by over 500 metres. Work has now started on a 1,450-metre quay with 20 berths for inland shipping, which is also equipped with shore power.
The Yangtzekanaal links the APMT 2 and RWG terminals in the Prinses Amaliahaven, both of which are expanding capacity. The widening will allow two-way traffic for ultra-large container vessels and improve access to the Maasvlakte.
A heavy load zone will be added for the transshipment of freight and special materials. Inland shipping berths in front of the quay wall will have a depth of 6.80 metres. Around 1.4 million cubic metres of sand will be dredged and reused for land reclamation at Maasvlakte 2.
The top of the new quay wall will be constructed with about 10,000 cubic metres of geopolymer concrete, which contains no cement and reduces carbon emissions by approximately 50 percent.
