The Netherlands to build new port facility specifically for offshore wind

A partnership deal for the new facility was signed recently by the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, Province of North Holland, Municipality of Velsen, Tata Steel, IJmuiden Seaport and Port of Amsterdam.

The new port will support the development of offshore windfarms in the North Sea and act as an operational base for their construction and maintenance.

The energy port will provide support for construction of the Hollandse Kust West and IJmuiden Ver offshore windfarms off the Dutch coast.

The new facility will be built on the sea-side of the North Sea Canal, in front of the IJmuiden lock complex.

The Netherlands Minster of Infrastructure and Water Management, Cora van Nieuwenhuizen said “The large-scale construction and maintenance of windfarms in the North Sea demands much greater port capacity.

“Our collaborative development of the Averijhaven into a modern energy port means offshore businesses will have all the space they need in the future.”

The energy port will have an area of more than 15 hectares. The existing acreage of the Averijhaven and five hectares of land owned by Tata Steel will be used to create a public port area for offshore wind.

The new facility will have a 580-m quay, of which 200 m will be a heavy duty facility with 12.5-m water depth. There will also be a 380-m standard facility with 10-m water depth.

The location of this port means it will play an important role in the efficient installation and operational maintenance of windfarms and help to reduce costs.

Preparatory work for the new facility will see the Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management clear the area in question and a study of the effects of constructing the port on the environment carried out by means of an environmental impact assessment.

Commercial operation of the Energy Port will be in the hands of the Port of Amsterdam and IJmuiden Seaport.