Deep sea quays up to 40 m deep

Deep sea quays have to be robust on both sides to withstand the enormous forces exerted by the container ships berthed alongside them and the pressure of the earth on the other side all day long. That is why the quay walls are made of 1.2 metre thick reinforced concrete, which extend to a depth of 40 metres. The quay wall then extends to a depth which is twice that of the harbour basin itself, with the bottom being at -20 m Amsterdam Ordnance Datum (NAP). In order to cope with the forces from both directions more than two hundred 55 metre piles and nine hundred 35 metre piles have been driven into the soil at an angle.

Automated terminal

RWG is setting the bar high. Their ambition is to construct one of the most sustainable and advanced terminals in the world and to process the vessels reliably, sustainably, rapidly and predictably, and this includes transportation to the rest of Europe.

Logistical and environmental benefits can be achieved because the terminal is almost fully automated. Although there are aspects which cannot be revealed for competition-related reasons, it is clear that a new generation of equipment is now being marketed. The AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles, computer-controlled vehicles) are going to be greener and will move containers more quickly from and to the stacks (temporary storage).

Sustainable cranes

Eleven Super Post Panamax cranes are to be operating on the deep sea quays. These giants, which weigh between 1,600 and 2,000 tons, can unload the very largest container ships. The expectation is that a lot of the energy used by the cranes will be green energy, including wind energy. The way the cranes load and unload is also different because energy is recovered when the container is lowered and that energy is fed back to the RWG electricity grid.

Energy-neutral buildings

The buildings are energy-neutral, with a minimum of CO2 emissions, and they are sustainable, properly insulated and fitted with triple glazing. All of this is necessary because they have to cope with everything the sea can throw at them.

Energy comes from a thermal storage system. The summer heat is stored in the ground and is pumped up again in the winter. In the winter cold is stored which can then be used for cooling purposes in the summer.

Facts and figures

•            110 hectares in 2013, expanding in time to 156 hectares

•            1,150 long metre deep sea quay (-20 NAP)

•            11 Super Post Panamax cranes

•            550 metre long barge feeder (-13 NAP) * 3 barge feeder cranes

•            3 barge feeder cranes