Good inspection ensures good progress and safety

The Middle Lock of the New Terneuzen Lock will be operational throughout construction, until 2021. To ensure that the Middle Lock functions optimally, Sliedrecht-based A-Quin conducted inspections. The company specializes in inspections and advice on infrastructure issues.

We speak with Wim van Teffelen, Project Manager and Inspector E at A-Quin. "The Middensluis is a commercial shipping lock and is an important passageway until the sea lock is eventually commissioned. A-Quin carried out inspection work on the Middensluis and risk assessments."

Three disciplines
"Our work consists of three disciplines, namely electrical, mechanical and civil inspection. I myself took care of the electrical part; my colleagues Sjors Boonen and Maikel Diekmann did the civil and mechanical inspections, respectively," Van Teffelen says. "Electrotechnically, we assessed the low-voltage and control installations, in the broadest sense. Related installations were also assessed, such as bridge and lock operation and vessel signals."

On the mechanical engineering front, A-Quin inspected the drive and motion work of the various types of lock gates. Van Teffelen outlines, "We're talking about two pairs of point doors that are electromechanically driven, roller doors that are electro-hydraulically driven and about two movable bridges." And on the civil engineering front? "We recorded the status of the lock chamber walls, assessed the site itself and did an inspection of the driving deck on the movable bridges."

On the mechanical engineering front, A-Quin inspected, among other things, the drive and motion work of two movable bridges.

No unnecessary luxury
A-Quin spent a total of an entire work week on site during the period from February to March performing all the work. "The reporting was done on behalf of the maintenance contractor to contractor combination Sassevaart. There were indeed issues identified that needed attention, these were neatly reported."

Meanwhile, A-Quin is also involved in inspection work at the concrete plant: "There, it concerned a NEN3140 safety inspection," Van Teffelen says in conclusion. "We delivered the report on that at the beginning of this year."