The Lawspeaker
04-21-2013, 03:27 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXevwyQn5Yc
Port of Rotterdam - Megastructures - National Geographic Documentary
The Port of Rotterdam is a marine freeway and one of the busiest ports. And on this particular day, the Harbour Control's skills and machines are put to the test when three most challenging ships in the world: 'The Berge Star', 'The Savana Express' and 'The Mighty Servant III', respectively known as 'The Mega Deep', 'The Mega Wide' and 'The Mega Tall' are received.
Welcome to the port of Rotterdam, the main port of Europe, stretching from the North Sea approach area over a length of 40 km further inland.
This is the area of which I, as the Chief Harbour Master, am in charge -- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - of the public nautical and maritime tasks. As it is my responsibility to ensure a smooth, safe, environmentally friendly and secure shipping handling, I see it as a personal challenge that the Master of every vessel calling at the Port of Rotterdam finds his visit trouble-free and enjoyable.
In the Port of Rotterdam, the nautical maritime authority functions have been integrated into one person, the Chief Harbourmaster. This integration of functions aims explicitly to make your call as good as possible. The background is the Harbourmaster's Covenant, a formal agreement between the national government, the city government of Rotterdam and the Port of Rotterdam Authority which gives me as Chief Harbourmaster an autonomous position within the Port Authority. Based on the Covenant, I am also State Harbourmaster in the region Rotterdam-Rijnmond, carrying with it the control over the waterways into the various harbours. Furthermore I am mandated in this region as Port Security Authority.
The port of Rotterdam is well known for its high standards of nautical services, thesafe and smooth handling of shipping and a Vessel Traffic Guidance System of high quality. The staff of my Division Harbour Master of the port authority contributes a great deal to these high standards with its over 510 specialists, 10 patrol vessels and 100% radar coverage. The Division Harbour Master also puts great effort in drawing up clear port procedures and regulations. Subsequently it supervises strictly the observance of these regulations. Over the years, the perception has grown that a vessel in the port of Rotterdam must have her things in order. Shipping companies that invest in safety and environment appreciate this attitude, as it allows them to operate faster and cheaper.
At the same time Rotterdam is a port where, whenever necessary, every ship receives special attention and active co-operation in order to find optimal solutions, of course within the law and environmental boundaries. As far as enforcement is concerned, it is our firm believe that preventive action by means of direct information and support - given on board by our inspectors, by the crews of our patrol vessels and by our VTS operators - is the best way to prevent problems with safety and environment. This reduces to a large extent the necessity for more stringent enforcement
With 35.000 seagoing vessels and 133.000 inland vessels visiting us each year, the port of Rotterdam is characterized as having dense shipping traffic. Within the regional port area, cargo sea ship movements are over 90.000, while inland ship movements amount to 400.000 each year. Annually 430 million tons of goods are handled (in 2011), of which more than 110 million tons of IMO classified dangerous goods.
The maximum draught is 22.55 meters, there are no locks.
Situated at the end of the river Rhine, locally known as the Nieuwe Waterweg, the port has a position at the gateway of the European inland waterway network, making the port of Rotterdam ideally located for the transhipment of cargo. The extensive industrial complex and its strategic location in Europe, make that most major carriers include Rotterdam in their services. Containers destined for other European countries are forwarded from Rotterdam byfeeder services, inland vessels, railway or trucks. The port of Rotterdam is well equipped for handling bulk and general cargoes, coal and ores, crude oil, LNG, bio fuels, agricultural products, chemicals, containers, cars, fruit, refrigerated cargoes etc.
Port of Rotterdam - Megastructures - National Geographic Documentary
The Port of Rotterdam is a marine freeway and one of the busiest ports. And on this particular day, the Harbour Control's skills and machines are put to the test when three most challenging ships in the world: 'The Berge Star', 'The Savana Express' and 'The Mighty Servant III', respectively known as 'The Mega Deep', 'The Mega Wide' and 'The Mega Tall' are received.
Welcome to the port of Rotterdam, the main port of Europe, stretching from the North Sea approach area over a length of 40 km further inland.
This is the area of which I, as the Chief Harbour Master, am in charge -- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - of the public nautical and maritime tasks. As it is my responsibility to ensure a smooth, safe, environmentally friendly and secure shipping handling, I see it as a personal challenge that the Master of every vessel calling at the Port of Rotterdam finds his visit trouble-free and enjoyable.
In the Port of Rotterdam, the nautical maritime authority functions have been integrated into one person, the Chief Harbourmaster. This integration of functions aims explicitly to make your call as good as possible. The background is the Harbourmaster's Covenant, a formal agreement between the national government, the city government of Rotterdam and the Port of Rotterdam Authority which gives me as Chief Harbourmaster an autonomous position within the Port Authority. Based on the Covenant, I am also State Harbourmaster in the region Rotterdam-Rijnmond, carrying with it the control over the waterways into the various harbours. Furthermore I am mandated in this region as Port Security Authority.
The port of Rotterdam is well known for its high standards of nautical services, thesafe and smooth handling of shipping and a Vessel Traffic Guidance System of high quality. The staff of my Division Harbour Master of the port authority contributes a great deal to these high standards with its over 510 specialists, 10 patrol vessels and 100% radar coverage. The Division Harbour Master also puts great effort in drawing up clear port procedures and regulations. Subsequently it supervises strictly the observance of these regulations. Over the years, the perception has grown that a vessel in the port of Rotterdam must have her things in order. Shipping companies that invest in safety and environment appreciate this attitude, as it allows them to operate faster and cheaper.
At the same time Rotterdam is a port where, whenever necessary, every ship receives special attention and active co-operation in order to find optimal solutions, of course within the law and environmental boundaries. As far as enforcement is concerned, it is our firm believe that preventive action by means of direct information and support - given on board by our inspectors, by the crews of our patrol vessels and by our VTS operators - is the best way to prevent problems with safety and environment. This reduces to a large extent the necessity for more stringent enforcement
With 35.000 seagoing vessels and 133.000 inland vessels visiting us each year, the port of Rotterdam is characterized as having dense shipping traffic. Within the regional port area, cargo sea ship movements are over 90.000, while inland ship movements amount to 400.000 each year. Annually 430 million tons of goods are handled (in 2011), of which more than 110 million tons of IMO classified dangerous goods.
The maximum draught is 22.55 meters, there are no locks.
Situated at the end of the river Rhine, locally known as the Nieuwe Waterweg, the port has a position at the gateway of the European inland waterway network, making the port of Rotterdam ideally located for the transhipment of cargo. The extensive industrial complex and its strategic location in Europe, make that most major carriers include Rotterdam in their services. Containers destined for other European countries are forwarded from Rotterdam byfeeder services, inland vessels, railway or trucks. The port of Rotterdam is well equipped for handling bulk and general cargoes, coal and ores, crude oil, LNG, bio fuels, agricultural products, chemicals, containers, cars, fruit, refrigerated cargoes etc.