Rotterdam only a little busier after opening of the Rhine
Against expectations, the port of Rotterdam was “only a little” busier than normal after the Rhine was reopened for traffic this weekend.
The Port of Rotterdam Authority had organised extra berths for inland waterway vessels in order to deal with the expected flood of ships that had been held up for five days behind Cologne. That turned out to be unnecessary.
“Why? I really don’t know,” said duty officer Mr Teun van der Werff.
A screen that is metres high gives him a view of ships in the port. “Perhaps there aren’t many ships that need to go to Rotterdam, perhaps they’re waiting until after the weekend.''
On Saturday, the inland waterway vessel Celtic operated by Mr Teunis Schokkenbroek and his wife was one of the first ships to arrive in Rotterdam from Cologne. Mr Schokkenbroek was heading the queue and once the Rhine was reopened for traffic, was able to get underway immediately.
“We kept going all night,” he said. “In the beginning we were running in convoy, but eventually traffic turned normal.'' Last night, he was just in time to deliver a diesel engine at ECT. The engine was supposed to be taken on board a ship bound for China that was due to sail the same evening. Mr Schokkenbroek did expect long hours of waiting at the terminals in the port. “Part of the inland waterway shipping industry has been idle for a week,” he said. “They’re now going back to work and having five waiting ships at a time will not be an exception.”
The Rhine became obstructed exactly a week ago when a ship lost its cargo near Cologne. It took until Friday night before the majority of the 31 containers – some of them with hazardous substances – were salvaged and the river was cleared for shipping again.
About 250 ships had to wait on both sides of the obstruction.
The Port of Rotterdam Authority had organised extra berths for inland waterway vessels in order to deal with the expected flood of ships that had been held up for five days behind Cologne. That turned out to be unnecessary.
“Why? I really don’t know,” said duty officer Mr Teun van der Werff.
A screen that is metres high gives him a view of ships in the port. “Perhaps there aren’t many ships that need to go to Rotterdam, perhaps they’re waiting until after the weekend.''
On Saturday, the inland waterway vessel Celtic operated by Mr Teunis Schokkenbroek and his wife was one of the first ships to arrive in Rotterdam from Cologne. Mr Schokkenbroek was heading the queue and once the Rhine was reopened for traffic, was able to get underway immediately.
“We kept going all night,” he said. “In the beginning we were running in convoy, but eventually traffic turned normal.'' Last night, he was just in time to deliver a diesel engine at ECT. The engine was supposed to be taken on board a ship bound for China that was due to sail the same evening. Mr Schokkenbroek did expect long hours of waiting at the terminals in the port. “Part of the inland waterway shipping industry has been idle for a week,” he said. “They’re now going back to work and having five waiting ships at a time will not be an exception.”
The Rhine became obstructed exactly a week ago when a ship lost its cargo near Cologne. It took until Friday night before the majority of the 31 containers – some of them with hazardous substances – were salvaged and the river was cleared for shipping again.
About 250 ships had to wait on both sides of the obstruction.