Project Description

  • Project name: Maasvlakte II expansion
  • Project location: Netherlands
  • Name of client: Port of Rotterdam
  • Period: 2002-2012

Description of the project

Maasvlakte 2 is a 2.9-billion Euro expansion in the Port of Rotterdam, resulting 1,000 ha of port and industrial area dedicated for container terminal development, distribution facilities and chemical and offshore (wind energy) industries. PCR prepared the masterplan for the staged flexible development, on an area reclaimed from the sea and is directly connected to the existing Rotterdam port area. A challenge in the design process was the creation of sufficient flexibility in the design and a phased innovative development to cope with market uncertainties and strict environmental boundary conditions in Europe.

PCR has been involved in several projects for the development ot Maasvlakte 2, which included studies, investigations and modelling related to basic infrastructure, logistic concepts, hinterland connections by rail, road and IWT, concessions for terminal operators, park of wind mills on the outer contour of the new port area, etc. Some relevant assignments are described below.

Services provided by Port Consultants Rotterdam

  • Preparation of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) for the physical development and the actual use of the new port area, which was an important part of the investigations in order to develop an acceptable zoning plan for local, regional and national governments. Subjects for the EIA included impacts as traffic, noise and emissions on air and water quality, nature, landscape, urban and recreation areas. Mitigation and compensation measures have been defined and assessed.
  • Concession contracts between Rotterdam Port Authority and container operators which, in order to reduce emissions, include restrictions on emissions and on the modal split. The latter restriction is based on the requirement to make optimal use of means of intermodal transport as rail and inland waterway transport (IWT).
  • Studies and measures to enable the introduction of shore side electricity at the new container terminals.
  • Feasibility study and preparation of tender procedure for development of wind farm, and studies into direct connections of the wind park and container terminals in order to link supply and demand of power have been undertaken.
  • Definition of an intensive monitoring programme in order to optimally inform public authorities and nature reservation institutes on the impacts actually encountered. Ongoing measurements, investigations and reporting are part of these programmes.
  • Development of business concept, logistic and infrastructure solutions, lay-out and business case for syngas cluster.
  • Study of bottlenecks of the hinterland transport to cater for the excepted volume growth, for which scenarios for new concepts were developed in close co-operation with the terminal and hinterland transport operators, including rail and barge terminals as well as an inter terminal transport system to connect all elements of the container hinterland transport chain.