Van Oord’s CSD Biesbosch and TSHD Vox Apolonia busy in Maasvlakte

Van Oord’s cutter suction dredger (CSD) Biesbosch and trailing suction hopper dredger (TSHD) Vox Apolonia are teaming up to dredge the Prinses Amaliahaven located on Maasvlakte in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

A consortium of Van Oord, HOCHTIEF and Ballast Nedam has constructed 2.4 kilometres of new quay wall. These new quays are now being dredged to a depth of more than 20 metres below sea level.

According to Van Oord, this development means that the Port of Rotterdam Authority is ensuring an expansion of container capacity in Rotterdam.

In total 1,825 metres of deep-sea quay, 160 metres of inland shipping quay and 360 metres of earth-retaining walls have been created.

Van Oord’s cutter suction dredger Biesbosch started dredging the new quay walls in December last year, trailing suction hopper dredger Vox Apolonia joined in March.

The development of the Prinses Amaliahaven will potentially increase annual throughput capacity in the port of Rotterdam by four million TEU (standard size for containers), said Van Oord.