To whom it may concern
We have been informed by Rotterdam Port Authorities that on the test closure of the storm surge barriers on the Nieuwe Waterweg and Hartelkanaal has been scheduled for Sunday 20 September 2020.
As a consequence all shipping will be obstructed for the reqions Botlek, Waalhaven, Dordrecht, Moerdijk and to the hinterland. Shipping for the Maasvlakte I + II and Europoort area will not be effected. Shipping will be obstructed from Sunday, 20 September 2020, from approximately 02:00 hrs. (LT) until approximately on Sunday, 20 September 2019 17:45 hrs. (LT), shorter if possible or longer if necessary.
Official Shipping Announcement from Rotterdam Port Authorities:
Due to the annual testing of the surge barriers in the Nieuwe Waterweg (New Waterway) and the Hartelkanaal, all shipping will be obstructed on the Nieuwe Waterweg and the Hartelkanaal on Sunday 20 September 2020.
Furthermore, no ships or other objects will be allowed within a distance of 300m on both sides of each surge barrier.
Passage at the surge barrier in the Nieuwe Waterweg (New Waterway) will be obstructed from: Sunday, 20 September 2020, from approximately 02:00 hrs. (LT) until approximately 17:45 hrs. (LT), shorter if possible or longer if necessary.
Passage at the surge barrier in the Hartelkanaal will be obstructed from: Sunday, 20 September 2020, from approximately 01:30 hrs. (LT) until approximately 11:00 hrs. (LT), shorter if possible or longer if necessary.
It will not be possible to use the Hartelsluis (Hartel Lock) on Friday 18 September 2020 from 12:00 hrs. (LT) until Sunday 20 September 11:15 hrs. (LT).
N.B. Vessels approaching from seaward and heading for the Calandkanaal and/or the Beerkanaal can proceed as normal.
If, due to unforeseen circumstances, the scheduled closure should need to be postponed, the complete obstruction of shipping traffic will be rescheduled at the surge barriers in the Nieuwe Waterweg (New Waterway) on Sunday 4 October 2020 from approximately 13:30 hrs. (LT) until approximately on Monday, 5 October 2020 05:15 hrs. (LT) and at the surge barriers in the Hartelkanaal on Sunday 4 October 2020 from approximately 13:00 hrs. (LT) until approximately 22:30 hrs. (LT), shorter if possible or longer if necessary.
It will not be possible to use the Hartelsluis (Hartel Lock) on Friday 2 October 2020 from 12:00 hrs. (LT) until Sunday 4 October 22:45 hrs. (LT).
On the days specified, the shipping ban at the surge barriers in the Nieuwe Waterweg (New Waterway) and the Hartelkanaal will be indicated by means of signaling in accordance with the Inland Navigation Police Regulations on both sides of both the surge barriers and on the barriers themselves.
Instructions given by the competent authority and/or from the harbour patrol boats on site must be obeyed directly.
Vessels likely to be affected by the obstruction are expressly requested to obtain timely information on the progress of the test and/or any alterations to the above-mentioned obstruction times.
Further information can be obtained by contacting:
- Harbour Coordination Center, the HCC duty officer,
telephone number +31 (0)10 252 10 00 or VHF channel 11.
ROTTERDAM HARBOUR MASTER
and State Harbour Master for the Rotterdam–Rijnmond region
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