To whom it may concern
We have been informed by Rotterdam Port Authorities that on the test closure of the storm surge barriers on the Nieuwe Waterweg and Hartelkanaal has been scheduled for 14 and 15 September 2019.
As a consequence all shipping will be obstructed for the reqions Botlek, Waalhaven, Dordrecht, Moerdijk and to the hinterland.
Shipping for the Maasvlakte I + II and Europoort area will not be effected.
shipping will be obstructed from Saturday, 14 September 2019, from approximately 12:45 hrs. (LT) until approximately on Sunday, 15 September 2019 03:50 hrs. (LT), shorter if possible or longer if necessary.
Official Shipping Announcement from Rotterdam Port Authorities:
COMPLETE OBSTRUCTION OF ALL SHIPPING
Test closure of Nieuwe Waterweg and Hartelkanaal surge barriers
1. Due to the annual testing of the surge barriers in the Nieuwe Waterweg (New Waterway) and the Hartelkanaal, all shipping will be obstructed on the Nieuwe Waterweg and the Hartelkanaal on Saturday 14 September 2019 and Sunday 15 September 2019.
Furthermore, no ships or other objects will be allowed within a distance of 300m on both sides of each surge barrier.
2. Passage at the surge barrier in the Nieuwe Waterweg (New Waterway) will be obstructed from: Saturday, 14 September 2019, from approximately 12:45 hrs. (LT) until approximately on Sunday, 15 September 2019 03:50 hrs. (LT), shorter if possible or longer if necessary.
Passage at the surge barrier in the Hartelkanaal will be obstructed from:
Saturday, 14 September 2019, from approximately 12:30 hrs. (LT) until approximately 21:00 hrs. (LT), shorter if possible or longer if necessary.
It will not be possible to use the Hartelsluis (Hartel Lock) on Thursday 12 September 2019 from 15:00 hrs. (LT) until Saturday 14 September 21:00 hrs. (LT).
N.B. Vessels approaching from seaward and heading for the Calandkanaal and/or the Beerkanaal can proceed as normal.
3. If, due to unforeseen circumstances, the scheduled closure should need to be postponed, the complete obstruction of shipping traffic will be rescheduled at the surge barriers in the Nieuwe Waterweg (New Waterway) on Sunday 29 September 2019 from approximately 12:45 hrs. (LT) until approximately on Monday, 30 September 2019 04:00 hrs. (LT) and at the surge barriers in the Hartelkanaal on Sunday 29 September 2019 from approximately 12:30 hrs. (LT) until approximately 21:00 hrs. (LT), shorter if possible or longer if necessary.
It will not be possible to use the Hartelsluis (Hartel Lock) on Friday 27 September 2019 from 15:00 hrs. (LT) until Sunday 29 September 21:00 hrs. (LT).
4. On the days specified, the shipping ban at the surge barriers in the Nieuwe Waterweg (New Waterway) and the Hartelkanaal will be indicated by means of signaling in accordance with the Inland Navigation Police Regulations on both sides of both the surge barriers and on the barriers themselves.
5. Instructions given by the competent authority and/or from the harbour patrol boats on site must be obeyed directly.
6. Vessels likely to be affected by the obstruction are expressly requested to obtain timely
information on the progress of the test and/or any alterations to the above-mentioned
obstruction times.
7. Further information can be obtained by contacting:
- Harbour Coordination Center, the HCC duty officer, telephone number +31 (0)10 252 10 00 or VHF channel 11.
ROTTERDAM HARBOUR MASTER and State Harbour Master for the Rotterdam–Rijnmond region
12 June 2019