The shipping platform

Location: Amsterdam is situated at the junction of the North Sea Canal (Nooordzeekanaal) and the Amsterdam Rhine Canal (Rijnkanaal). From the North Sea access is via Nooordzeekanaal, passing the locks in Ijmuiden to the port. From inland waters access is via Oranjesluizen or through the Amstedam Rijnkanaal. General overview: The port area consists of the ports of Amsterdam, Zaanstad and IJmuiden, which includes Beverwijk. The harbour has been extensively enlarged and modernised with new deep and spacious harbours in the west port area. At present the total surface of the port area includes 2,873 hectares. There are ample facilities for break bulk, containerised, Ro-Ro and general cargo as well as for forest products and cars. Furthermore, there is a container terminal, a ferry terminal and a passenger terminal. The main imported goods entering this port are grains, ore, coal, fertilizers, crude oil, cocoa powder, coffee, paper, machinery, chemicals and groceries, etc. The principal exported goods leaving this port include coke, oil, wheat, fertilizer, metal utensils, transportation equipment, chemical products, and meat. Vessels must pass through three North Sea locks to approach the Port of Amsterdam. The North lock is 400 meters long, 47.3 meters wide, and 15 meters deep, and the maximum size of vessels passing the North lock is 350 meters long, 45 meters wide with 13.7 meters draft. The Middle lock is 200 meters long, 25 meters wide, and 10.12 meters deep, and the maximum size of vessels passing the North lock is 185 meters long, 24 meters wide with 8.5 meters draft. The South Central Middle lock is 100 meters long, 18 meters wide, and 8 meters deep, and the maximum size of vessels passing the North lock is 95 meters long, 17 meters wide with 6 meters draft. Vessels more than 43 meters wide or with a draft over 13.1 meters in salt water must have a draft/beam license. The Port of Amsterdam's North Sea Canal facilities at Ijmuiden contain a total 7.2 thousand meters of quays and alongside depths from 6.5 to 16.5 meters. The Zeehaven Ijmuiden facilities include 4.3 thousand meters of quays with alongside depths from 7 to 11 meters. The quays at Corus Staal BV are a total 1.2 thousand meters long with alongside depths from 9 to 16.5 meters. The Inner Harbour No. 3 quay is 212 meters long with alongside depth of 6.5 meters, and the Port Authority of Ijmuiden manages the quays at Corus Staal BV and the Inner Harbour No. 3. The 31 quays in the Amsterdam Harbor total over 25 kilometers in length and have depths varying from four to 15 meters. The five quays at the Port of Amsterdam's Beverwijk harbor total almost 2.4 thousand meters and have alongside depths from 7 to 11 meters. The nine Zaandam harbour quays in the Port of Amsterdam contain a total of over 2.6 thousand meters of quays with alongside depths from 2.5 to 10 meters. The Port of Amsterdam is the 3rd biggest cruise port in Europe with 140 sea cruise ships and 1500 river cruise ships. Almost 700,000 cruise passengers per year visit Amsterdam. There are two cruise terminals: the Passenger Terminal Amsterdam in the city center, and one after the locks in IJmuiden. Traffic figures: Approx 5,400 vessels, 74,800,000t of cargo, 425,000TEU and 468,500 passengers handled annually. Load line zone: North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31. Max size: The Amsterdam Ports can accommodate vessels up to 16.4m draught at the dry bulk terminal outside the locks at IJmuiden as well as vessels up to 13.75m draught in salt water, in other harbour basins along the North Sea Canal. Amsterdam: The Ijmuiden Locks give access to the Amsterdam Port area, through the North Sea Canal. The largest North Lock (400m in length, 47.3m in width, 15.0m depth on the sill) ensures a passage for vessels up to 13.7m draught in fresh water. The max draught in the North Sea Canal amounts to the same level. This draught usually corresponds with 100,000DWT vessels (fully loaded). The canal has a bottom width of 170m. This corresponds to a width of 275m at water level. Maximum size of vessel handled: Tankers of up to LOA 325m, beam 42m, draught of 13.1m SW, 100,000DWT can be accommodated. Vessels up to 13.7m SW draught and beam 45m have been admitted in special cases. The largest vessel called at the port: LOA: 328 m, draught: 14.2 m, deadweight: 225,380 t.