Rotterdam

1. Maas Center Anchorage Area 1 Pilot boards52°00.4′N 003°50.5′E
2. Maas Center Buoy (Maascenter) Pilot boards52°01.0′N 003°53.5′E
3. Rotterdam boarding, LNG over 180m loa Pilot boards52°00.2′N 003°35.0′E
4. Rotterdam boarding, drafts over 17.4m (helicopter) Pilot boards by helicopter51°59.0′N 003°00.0′E

Size limits

Harbour: LOA 400m, draught 22.55m, beam 65m, 399,821DWT.

Off Shore: LOA 333m, draught 19.5m, BCM 70m, 318,676DWT.

Note: The draughts are related to the chart datum NAP (Normal Amsterdams Peil). LAT equals NAP -1.07m.

Up to date parameters and conversions at RWS locations are available at www.actuelewaterdata.nl.

Water density

Europoort: HW 1025; LW 1012.

Botlek: HW 1020; LW 1000.

Waalhaven and other basins: In the Rotterdam port area: HW 1004 and LW 1000. All depending on the amount of fresh water carried down river.

Load line zone

North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.

Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.

Approach

The port is approached from seaward through Nieuwe Waterweg and Nieuwe Maas. The port can also be approached from the E via the River Rhine.

Anti-flood barriers: An anti-flood barrier has been constructed across the Nieuwe Waterweg, approx 2nm upstream from the conspicuous leading light at Berghaven (51°75.3'N 004°09.6'E). The width between the two doors is 360m. The anti-flood barrier will close when a water height is predicted of at least 3m + NAP in Rotterdam. Free passage is possible up to 2 hours before closure.

Vessels will be notified as quickly as possible through different channels or agencies.

Another anti-flood barrier has been constructed across the Hartel Canal which will close simultaneously with the one located on the Nieuwe Waterweg.

Port limits

The port of Rotterdam covers the Eurogeul and Maasgeul channels, approach area and anchor areas, The River Nieuwe Waterweg and Nieuwe Maas (To Km 991.5), the River Oude Maas (to Km 998).

Traffic schemes and VTS

A Vessel Traffic System area extends fro 38nm seawards from the Eurgeul to 3nm from the Van Brienenoord Bridge.

The VTS area is split into two regions and operated by Traffic Centre Hoek van Holland and Traffic Centre Rotterdam.

Note: Vessels navigating Hartelkanaal between sector Oude Maas and sector Europoort, and S of sector Rozenburg should use VHF Ch 10 for communication.

Restrictions

Restrictions for entering Europoort: Tankers with a draught exceeding 21.9m (SW); some berths have tide restrictions. While entering Europoort, tugs are made fast just inside the breakwaters. At all times tug's hawsers must be used. The time at which deeply loaded vessels destined for Europoort enter the New Waterway depends on the prevailing circumstances and is always subject to agreements made between the Pilot Service and the Harbour Coordination Centre.

Botlek: Max draught 13.4m SW, exceptionally 13.7m SW, under certain conditions.

3rd Petroleumhaven: Vessels exceeding 200m and/or draughts over 10.0m are tidebound. At least 0.9m UKC required in entrance. To obtain permission apply to the Harbour Master at the Harbour Coordination Centre (HCC).

1st and 2nd Petroleumhaven: Vessels with a length exceeding 180m and a 10.6m draught have tide restrictions.

Waalhaven: Max draught 12.1m, vessels with a draught of 10.9m SW, or a length of 200m and more are tide bound.

Basins on the right bank of river Maas, Maashaven and Rijnhaven: Vessels with a length of 180m and more with sufficient UKC are generally tidebound. The entrance to Waalhaven is being widened and deepened to make it suitable for larger container vessels to enter for at least 20 hours a day instead of the present 5 hours. After completion, the new entrance will be nearly 300m wide and the depth of the fairway in the Waalhaven will be 14.5m.

All harbours in Rotterdam can be entered at any time day and night.

Bridges:

Willemsbrug: The middle span of Willemsbrug (51°55.0'N 004°29.7'E) has a vertical clearance of 10m and the three spans of the railway bridge close W have a vertical clearance of 8m.

Illuminated tide gauges indicating the height of the central span above water level are situated as follows:

Below bridge; At the SW entrance point to Rijnhaven (51°54.2'N 004°29.0'E), on the S bank.

Above bridge; Opposite Persoonhaven on the N bank (51°54.4'N 004°31.3'E). On the N bank 0.3nm E of Oosterkade (51°55.1'N 004°30.5'E).

Koningshaven: Vessels unable to pass under the fixed bridges may proceed through Koningshaven (51°54.8'N 004°30.0'E) in a depth of 6.0m. Koningshaven is spanned by a bascule road bridge and a lifting rail bridge (Koninginnebrug). The through passage width is 50m. Koninginnebrug has a vertical clearance of 45.4m when elevated and of 7.9m when lowered. The bascule road bridge has a vertical clearance of 2.7m when lowered.

Opening times: The railway bridge remains open since the tunnel was completed.

The "Koninginnebrug" is opened day and night on request, VHF Ch 18. Barrage time during weekdays: From 0730-0900hrs and 1630-1800hrs.

Brienenoorbrug: Situated at 51°54.3'N 004°32.7'E Brienenoorbrug is a road bridge spanning Nieuwe Maas 2.5nm upstream from Willemsbrug. The main span is 280m in width, with a vertical clearance of 23.3m to 24.0m. There is a bascule bridge section near the N bank with a width of 50m.

A storm surge barrier and bridge spans Hollandsche Ijssel at Krimpen-on-Ijssel, (51°55'N 004°35'E).

To reach berths in Brittanihaven, vessels have to pass the Calandbridge. To reach berths in Seinehaven and Neckarhaven, vessels have to pass the Rozenburg locks (between the Caland Canal and the Hartel Canal).

Traffic guidance is supplied by VTS when visibility is less than 1,000m on the river or less than 2,000m in the approach area and Europoort.

Docking: Tankers with dangerous goods: Tankers with dangerous goods must dock in such a way that they can depart from a port basin by sailing ahead, unless this is impossible because of their draught or other nautical circumstances. If sailing ahead is impossible, the fact should be reported, preferably well in advance to Vessel Traffic & Operations.

Tankers loaded with or not cleaned of dangerous goods: Tankers loaded with or not cleaned of dangerous goods may berth in the "Petroleumhavens" only. The Harbour Master's Reporting Centre can permit deviation from this rule.

Non Tanker vessels: Non tanker vessels may request a license to enter the Petroleumhavens from the Harbour Master's reporting Centre.

Display of signals and lights: Vessels with a draught of 9.0m or more, whilst in the Maas Entrance, Nieuwe Waterweg, Nieuwe Maas, Beer Canal and Caland Canal, including the harbour basins and fairways, are considered to be restricted in manoeuvrability and must show the signal required by rule 28 of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972.

Signal: Black cylinder daytime, three red lights vertically night time.

Vessels with a draught of 7.0m or more or with a length of 135m or more, whilst in the Oude Maas, must show the same signals.

Tugs

Tug types: Conventional, ASD-type and tractor tugs.

Tugs normally join vessels in the river when nearing the basin where the vessel will be accommodated. Towing lines used are always from the tug.

Charts and publications

BA 207, 208, 209, 112, 110. Admiralty Pilot NP28, NP286(1).

HP1 Netherlands Coast Pilot. HP8 Deep draught Planning Guide - Greenwich Buoy to Europoort, HP33 Tidal heights-currents,.

ETA and pre-arrival notices

Should be sent to Maritime Information Communication Service:

Tel: +31 10 414 4222, Fax: +31 10 592 5767. Telex: 21058 dirk nl

Email: [email protected].

All vessels with draught of 17.40m and over should send the following information 48 hours before ETA at the rendezvous point (51°59.00'N 003°00.00'E).

All vessels less than draught 17.40m except those of less than 300GT should send the details above 24 hours before ETA at Maas Centre Lightbuoy (52°00.90'N 003°48.80'E) or, if departure from previous port was within last 24 hours, as soon as possible. Details A, B, I, O and Q should be forwarded 6 and 3 hours before ETA at the Maas Centre Lightbuoy.

HES Botlek Tank Terminal (HBTT): Prior to arrival at least 4hrs before berthing, the master or agent should inform the loading master with exact ETA alongside. The terminal will then advise berth availability. On arrival at the jetty, the terminal operator has the possibility to communicate with the vessel via agent/port authority and with barges directly.

Communications

Messages should be sent via Scheveningen Radio, which operates throughout 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Inmarsat communication is possible.

Notice of readiness

NOR to be tendered as per Charter Party, throughout the day or night.

Documents

On arrival the master should complete and sign a Maritime Declaration of Health. To download this form:

www.portofrotterdam.com/en/Shipping/rules-regulations/port-health-authority/Pages/maritime-declaration-health.aspx

Note - The Port of Rotterdam has tested and will shortly be operating "PRONTO", the port's new Port Call Optimisation system which will provide shipping companies, agents, service providers (pilots, linesmen, towing and bunkering companies) and operators with a joint platform for the exchange of port call information, using internationally adopted standards. This exchange of information will lead to much more efficient planning and port calls will be handled more swiftly and safely.

Health

In case where all questions are answered 'no', this form can be forwarded by mail or email to: Municipal Health Service (GGD) of Rotterdam, PO Box 1722, 3000 VB, Rotterdam, Email: [email protected]

Application for free pratique is not necessary. Ship Sanitation Control Certificates can be renewed.

Customs and immigration

The foregoing implies that the Seaport Police must be in possession of the required information prior to the arrival of the seagoing vessel in the port of Rotterdam. Seaport officials will regularly come onboard to carry out a physical inspection for border control purposes after the seagoing vessel has docked. During an inspection of this kind, the Master must present the crew manifest and possible passenger manifest to the officials, and offer his full co-operation during the inspection. The seaport Police aim to carry out the inspection within 6 hours of the vessel's arrival.

While the vessel is in a Dutch port, the master must retain the copy of the checked crew manifest and is required to submit it on request, report any signing-on or absence of an alien citizen deemed important by Border Control, any intention of an alien crew member to sign off and the departure of or boarding of a person who is not a member of the crew.

Port State Control here: Paris MOU.

Running now: the Paris and Tokyo MOU concentrated inspection campaign on cargo securing, 1 September to 30 November 2026. Its questions are published: the questionnaire.

ISPS

The Netherlands has a separate National Authority for all of the following areas:

Rotterdam, Curacao, Netherland Antilles, Amsterdam, Zeeland Seaports, Groningen Seaports, Moerdijk, Dordrecht, The Hague, Harlingen and Den Helder.

For further ISPS information see IMO website https://www.imo.org.

Repairs

A year after the launch of the Container Exchange Route (CER), the project is entering a new phase. The Port of Rotterdam Authority (PoR) will expand the CER in 2025 by adding connections to the Distripark Maasvlakte and the ECT Delta terminal/Hutchison Port Delta II terminal through a main gate concept. Investments will also be made in fiber optic and electrical infrastructure. Work will begin in early 2025 and will be completed in phases by the end of the year.

The Port Authority plans to invest in two central connections (main gates) in 2025, providing easier access to the CER for logistics service providers and the ECT terminal. By connecting the ECT terminal via a main gate on Coloradoweg, both the ECT Delta terminal and Hutchison Ports Delta II terminal will be linked to the CER via public roads. A main gate at Distripark Maasvlakte will provide access to at least twelve logistics service providers, including Nippon Express, NeeleVat, AWL, LT Foods, Odin, Broekman Logistics, and Thermotraffic. These new connections, alongside terminals and distribution companies, represent the next step in the successful development of the CER.

The first green hydrogen is expected to be shipped to Pernis in 2025 from the Holland Hydrogen 1 hydrogen plant, which runs at 200 megawatts (MW). According to reports, the plant produces green hydrogen using energy from offshore wind farms.

The Municipal Dangerous Goods division will contact the Labour Inspectorate, which organisation is in charge of the National law: cleaning and repairing tank vessels.

HES Botlek Tank Terminal (HBTT): Repairs, depending on the type of repair, can be requested by the agent (in advance) via the planning department and Port Authorities. Port Authority and HBTT will then decide if the type of repairs will be permitted.

Dry docks

Some shipyards are situated beyond the bridges across the River Maas, E of Rotterdam. They can be reached via the Koningshaven, where a traffic bridge, the "Koninginnebrug", has to be passed. Max draught (FW) at HW 6.4m, at LW 5.1m.

Rotterdam United Shipyards BV:

Location: Schiedam, Port Number 550. Activities: Maintenance, repair and conversion of naval, merchant and offshore craft at the yard or throughout the Rotterdam and Europoort harbour area ("wet repairs"). Servicing and repairs to all types of engines.

Facilities: Ship repair and drydock facilities up to 160,000DWT. Completely covered graving dock is available.

Niehuis & Van Den Berg BV:

Location: Rotterdam-Pernis, Port Number 2820.

Activities: Repairs to all types of sea going vessels and machinery onboard.

Facilities: Floating crane, tugs, barges. Five piers for afloat repairs, cranes of 25-30t lifting capacity and mobile cutting, grinding and milling equipment.

Van Brink Shipyard BV:

Activities: Steelwork, engineering and electrical repairs, port repairs. Official representative for MAN B & W Alpha Diesel Propulsion Systems.

Facilities: Three floating drydocks, workboats and lorries for repairs in port, floating cranes of up to 25t lifting capacity.

Bunkers, water and stores

The Port Authority is now allowing simultaneous bunkering of LNG container vessels (where cargo transfer takes place at the same time as bunkering). This service will be expanded across the port as the use of LNG grows.

Rotterdam is the first port in the world to allow the loading of Caustic Soda from bunkering vessels. Ships fitted with scrubbers require this to wash exhaust gases in closed-loop systems. Shipping companies may continue to use heavy fuel oil if they install scrubbers on their vessels to purify the exhaust gases with a wash treatment of water and soda. Rotterdam does not only offer low sulphur fuel; it also offers an optimal service to those shipping companies that have decided to use scrubbers so they can continue to use traditional heavy fuel oil. Scrubber waste can be collected and processed, and caustic soda can be bunkered ship-to-ship.

Medical

All medical facilities are available. The Port Hospital is unique in the Netherlands. Clinical observation and treatment as well as the outpatients department can rely on almost all forms of mediacl specialist care provided by foremost practitioners in their field. Advance notice only in emergency or if attendance required during the weekend.

Port Hospital (email; [email protected]),

Dijkzigt Hospital, Eye Hospital, Erasmus Medical Centre; [email protected]; Seafarma Medical Supplies, [email protected].

Crew change

All arrangements for crew changes and repatriation can be made.

Transport

Nearest airport: Zestienhoven (6km), Amsterdam Schiphol (70km).

Airport facilities: National connections available at Zestienhoven, International connections are available at Schiphol.

Nearest railway: Rotterdam Central.

Inland Port: Germany has agreed a new rail line between Emmerich and Oberhausen, just north of Duisburg, that will ease the freight bottleneck between the port of Rotterdam and the strategic intermodal port of Duisburg. The rail extension to the Betuwe line should be completed in 2022.

Working hours

Official office hours: Mon-Fri, 0900-1700hrs.

Where it is

Rotterdam is situated on the mouth of the River Maas and is the premier port of the North European hinterland.

The port

The port is a gateway to a market of 350,000,000 consumers. The 40km length of the port, with a total quayage of 83km, has 3 functions: Transhipment and transport, industry and distribution.

Rotterdam is the main port of European container transport. With the transhipment of over 9,000,000TEU, this port largely outstrips all other ports in Europe. Approx 70% of the containers loaded and unloaded in Rotterdam either come from or are destined for much larger European countries than the Netherlands.

The intercontinental services of almost all major carriers include Rotterdam. From this strategically located port, the containers destined for other European countries are then forwarded by coaster, freight barge, truck or train.

The port's large industrial centre and its position at the gateway of the European inland waterway network enable it to produce a large throughput of cargo. Rotterdam is well equipped for handling this throughput having facilities for bulk and general cargoes, coal and ores, crude oil, LNG, bio fuels, agricultural products, chemicals, containers, cars, fruit and refrigerated cargoes. There are also extensive ship repair, maintenance and storage facilities available.

Rotterdam has "Allweatherterminal" facilities available.

The port is never closed by ice. Even in severe winters when drift ice occurs in the river, causing some difficulties and delays, the traffic of seagoing vessels will continue uninterrupted.

From the Jan 1st 2013 all commercial shipping for Dordrecht is controlled by the Port of Rotterdam Authority.

Traffic

Approx 435,800,000t of cargo (of which approx. 23,110,000t was coal), 13,800,000TEU and 30,000 vessels handled annually.

Where does the pilot board at Rotterdam?

The pilot boards at Maas Center Anchorage Area 1, 52°00.4′N 003°50.5′E. Rotterdam has 4 pilot boarding places, 1 of them by helicopter.

What time zone is Rotterdam in?

Local time at Rotterdam is UTC+1. Clocks go to UTC+2 on 28 Mar 2027. Back to UTC+1 on 31 Oct 2027.

What is the maximum draft at Rotterdam?

The deepest berth listed is at HES Hartel Tank Terminal: 23.60 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at Rotterdam?

Europoort: HW 1025; LW 1012.

Which load line zone is Rotterdam in?

North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31.

Who carries out Port State Control at Rotterdam?

Port State Control at Rotterdam: Paris MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of Rotterdam?

The UN/LOCODE of Rotterdam is NLRTM.

What crews who called at Rotterdam say: pilot boarding, the agent's papers, inspections, shore leave. Each tip is shown with the writer's rank and ship type, and an AI summary sits on top once there are three or more.

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