Demolition of a Deep Sea Quay Wall in Rotterdam

Abstract

The rapid development in containership dimensions creates a huge challenge for ports. But for one port basin in Rotterdam this challenge was too big. The nautical restrictions for the Amazonehaven would start at such moderate conditions that the basin would be closed for ultra large container ships (ULCS) about a 100 days a year. As this basin contains more than 60 percent of the deep sea quay length at ECT Delta Terminal, Europe's largest container terminal, the Port of Rotterdam Authority decided to widen the basin by demolishing the opposite bulk quay wall. In this way vessels up to 18,000 TEU (twenty foot equivalent unit) have access up to 6 Beaufort wind speed.