February 18 - On behalf of the Port of Rotterdam Authority and the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment, Van Oord began work on the widening of the Breeddiep waterway from 75 m to 300 m on February 15.
During the work - which is scheduled for completion in late 2016 - inland vessels will still be able to pass through the Breeddiep, said the Port of Rotterdam Authority.
Van Oord will first excavate a new opening in the Spitsingsdam, which separates Calandkanaal and Nieuwe Waterweg, and only then start widening the present Breeddiep.
The widening of the waterway is intended to improve hinterland connections for shipping traffic coming from Rotterdam port. Each year, some 50,000 ships pass through the Breeddiep, says the port authority.
