Construction of New Sea Lock in IJmuiden Launched

Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment The construction of a new sea lock at the North Sea Canal entrance in IJmuiden, the Netherlands, was launched on September 7 by the Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and the Environment Melanie Schultz van Haegen. The sea lock, which will be 500 meters long, 70 meters wide and 18 meters deep, will provide access to the Amsterdam port region. Under the project, the new lock is scheduled to be constructed by the end of 2018, when the testing phase is planned, and it will be available for shipping in 2019. Minister Schultz said that the new lock, which will be able to operate in all tides, would ensure better accessibility for the port of Amsterdam. The current Noordersluis lock was built in 1929 and the new larger lock will ensure that the next generation of bulk carriers, container ships and cruise ships can continue to access the port of Amsterdam and the North Sea Canal. The lock is also expected to reduce waiting time for ships. Once constructed, the IJmuiden lock would be the worlds largest lock, according to the Dutch government. The Kieldrecht lock at the Belgium’s Port of Antwerp, which was inaugurated in June 2016, currently holds the title as the worlds largest lock with a length of 500 meters, a width of 68 meters and a depth of 17.8 meters. World Maritime News Staff