Eefde lock: future-proof in the field of cybersecurity

Between the river IJssel and the Twente canal at Eefde lies the monumental Zuidersluis Eefde. A second lock (Noordersluis) opened in April 2020 after a three-year construction period. The old Zuidersluis will be closed for major maintenance until mid-2021. Both locks in Eefde will soon be operated from the new control building and, in time, the locks in Hengelo and Delden will also be operated from here.

The new Noordersluis improves the accessibility of Twente and gives the regional economy an important boost. It is important for the economic development of Twente that heavier loaded ships can reach the ports in Hengelo, Enschede and Almelo. The new lock chamber is suitable for ships of 110 x 11.4 m and a draught of up to 3.5 meters. The arrival of the second lock chamber will also reduce waiting times in front of the lock complex. This also responds to the expected growth of waterborne transport.

The Lock to Twente (L2T) consortium, a partnership between TBI companies Croonwolter&dros, Mobilis and TBI PPP, is responsible for construction of the second lock, major maintenance of the South Lock and regular maintenance for the next 27 years.

An important aspect of infrastructure works such as Eefde Lock is cyber security. Since operation and monitoring of locks is done from a digital environment, locks can also fall prey to malicious people. We speak with Arjan Labee, IV Manager at Rijkswaterstaat and Bastiaan Roodink, Senior Consult at Croonwolter&dros|CS2, about the importance of digital security.

CS2 Solutions is a department within Croonwolter&dros specializing in the field of cybersecurity within operational technology (OT).