Start of work on service port at New Lock Terneuzen

On Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2019, the sound of an old ship's bell sounded in Terneuzen. This ship's bell, from an old concreting vessel from Terneuzen, officially heralded the start of work on the service port. A joyous moment in which all parties involved were present.

Wilbur van Beijnen, hydraulic engineering discipline leader and member of the technical team of the Flemish Dutch Scheldt Commission (VNSC).

Before this launch event, project director Eric Marteijn welcomed everyone. He then gave the floor to the chairman and co-chairman of the steering committee, Freddy Aerts, head of the Maritime Access Division of the Department of Mobility and Public Works, and Theo van de Gazelle, chief engineer director of the Department of Public Works Sea and Delta. Leendert Muller, CEO of Muller Maritime Holding, spoke on behalf of all parties who will have a place in the service port. Then it was time for a symbolic launch.

Placing the tubular piles.

Piling work started

After the official starting signal, the piling work on the service port could begin. The service port will be completed by the end of 2021 if everything goes according to schedule. The brand new service port with building in Buitenhaven West will then be 385 meters long and measure 90 meters at its widest. We speak with Wilbur van Beijnen, discipline leader of hydraulic engineering and member of the technical team of the Flemish Dutch Scheldt Commission (VNSC). "I mainly deal with quay constructions, mooring facilities, bottom protection and flood safety in general," Van Beijnen opens the conversation. "For the work on the service port, I am project manager. The preparations for the service port have begun. For example, the construction site on the long Middle Harbor Dam has been laid out, soil has been moved and the driveway has been modified. This way, the work traffic for the construction site and the traffic controllers going to the traffic control center, which is also on this dam, cannot cross each other."

Supply sheet piles.

In the same week, vibration began on the new combi wall, a combination of steel tubular piles with sheet piles between them. "We started with one pile and so far vibration is sufficient, we have not had to pile yet," Van Beijnen explained. "We are working from north to south, by mid-April this year the piling work should be finished. On the north and south sides cofferdams will be realized, in the second quarter of 2020 we will press about 100,000 m³ sand. This will be done in phases. The combi wall must be anchored with strand anchors about 50m long. At the level of the Service Building, these anchors interfere with the building's foundation piles. Precise work is therefore necessary."

Supply pipe piles and sheet piles.

Who will be in the service port?

The service port will be used for tug services, from Multraship and Boluda, for the Rijkswaterstaat boat, for a police boat and a customs boat. Van Beijnen concludes, "So the service port will soon be used by maritime service providers with a direct connection to the Terneuzen lock complex.The new site is conveniently located in relation to the New Lock when it is completed. In addition to the service port, a service building will also be constructed, as well as surrounding roads. The service building will house the Royal Military Police, Boluda (formerly Kotug) and Muller Maritime Holding. Their boats will be moored in the service port. Rijkswaterstaat has the Nautische Centrale Terneuzen on the same headland."