News

In 11 weeks’ time, 600,000 m3 of sand has been dredged out of the lock chamber by cutter suction dredger ‘Biesbosch’. The lock chamber is now at a depth of 19m below NAP. The bottom of the lock will be made of gravel and concrete which, when completed, will give the lock a maximum depth of 18 metres.

The construction of the new sea lock will continue unabated in the coming months. Work is being carried out on the maintenance dock situated in the inner lock head (number 1 in the picture) and preparations for the Loswal (quay) on the South Lock island (number 2 in the picture) are underway.

After the lock gate chamber of the inner head (at the North Sea Canal side) was sunk to its planned depth in 2019, OpenIJ started the completing works in the lock gate chamber early in 2020.

In the coming months, the eastern part of the northern flood barrier will be constructed, the threshold will be connected to the inner courtyard and the lock chamber will be dredged.

The new sea lock will be completely dredged out and all this sand will have to go somewhere. How does this work? What are they doing with all this sand? Arjan Kroot, site manager of the lock complex, explained the working techniques used on the construction site.

Good cooperation is important, especially with the construction of the new sea lock. Jordy Husslage, Head of Operations at Port of Amsterdam, knows all about it.