The Port of Amsterdam is styling itself as a full-blown energy hub as it branches out.
Amsterdam stands out as an energy port. Europe and countries in other parts of the world have a great need for energy.
The Port of Amsterdam is a leader for delivering the raw materials to satisfy this need. Much of it is fossil energy from oil products and coal. At the same time, the proportion of sustainable energy is growing in Amsterdam.
 
FULLY DIVERSIFIED PORT
“Amsterdam is becoming a fully diversified, 21st century energy port,” said Lex de Ridder, the port’s Commercial Manager for Bulk. “We already have oil and coal and increasingly we’re handling more biomass cargoes and using waste for energy production.
“Also, we’ve never really been a chemical port but we are looking at initiatives to create a more bio-based chemical industry in the future.
“Seventy-five per cent of our tonnage is now energy related. It’s very mineral based still, but it’s getting more varied by the year.”
 
NEW ENERGY FACILITIES
In the third quarter of this year, two new oil products terminals will be opened — one for Vopak which will handle Hydrocarbons, the other a joint venture between Harvest Energy and Seatank dubbed the Hydrocarbon Hotel. Together the facilities will offer some 1.4 million cubic metres of storage capacity.
Another new energy source for Amsterdam is the environmentally friendly handling of waste. Wata Energy opened a plant in Amsterdam three years ago to convert household and company waste from around the Netherlands into energy. However, the plant’s capacity exceeds domestic demand and increasingly waste is being imported from the UK and Scandinavia, a trade that will grow in the coming months. “This is already happening,” said de Ridder.
“The plant was intended to run on regional waste streams but there is an imbalance between the capacity of the plant and the availability of waste. As a result, it has been opened up to imported waste from other European countries.”
 
OBA EXPANDS COAL FACILITIES
But, of course, the port is also still focused on its dry bulk business. Leading coal stevedore OBA took delivery of a new gantry crane from Chinese supplier ZPMC in July. The crane was scheduled to complete installation as DCI went to press in September.
The new 60 tonnes lifting capacity rail-mounted gantry crane — Gantry No. 5 — offers 38m3 grab capacity and offers rated coal handling capacity of 3,500 tonnes per hour. Outreach comes in at 40 metres over water.
Last year, OBA added a second shiploader with capacity of 3,500m3 per hour and an outreach over water of 24 metres to allow push-barge and ocean vessel loading operations to be accommodated simultaneously at its ‘Main Terminal’. A second conveyor belt system was also built at the same terminal last year.
Altogether, the terminal upgrades are expected to boost OBA’s annual handling capacity by some 30%.
De Ridder expects that capacity to be needed in the years ahead. With Germany pulling the plug on its nuclear power programme, ports across the Northern Range are gearing up for increasing coal imports.
As previously reported in DCI,Amsterdam hopes to boost its competitive position in the coal market by improving its North Sea lightering facilities for Capesize vessels. By 2014 a new harbour with lightering facilities is expected to be in place at IJmuiden. At a cost of €100m the new facility will be able to handle two Capesize vessels instead of one, thereby doubling capacity.
“We’re getting all the permits and designs ready for this project now,” said de Ridder. “The Ministry of Transport has put a design and build team together so it is full speed ahead.
“The harbour is already there, but at the moment it is used for waste storage so it has to be opened up. This can be realized in the short term as it is an old port facility that was closed 20 years ago, it simply needs to be revamped, not developed from scratch.”
De Ridder hopes the lightering facility will be boosted by the construction of a new locks system at IJmuiden. By 2016 the new locks will allow direct access to the port of Amsterdam for Capesize vessels within the dimensions of around 17 metres draught, 65–70 metres beam and 500 metres in length. The project has now been green-lighted and funds of some €700m set aside. “This is a very promising area on the European North Sea coast. The new lock system and lightering facility will create further maritime cluster potential for the already busy and successful port,” he added.
 
OPTIMISTIC OUTLOOK ON COAL AND AGRIBULK
The construction of coal-fired power plants in Rotterdam also represent an opportunity for Amsterdam to boost coal throughput, according to de Ridder. He said with terminal capacity in those ports taken up by the new plants, more independent shipments will be directed via Amsterdam’s expanded capacity. “We’re very confident about coal moving forward,” he added.
De Ridder is also optimistic that the port will continue to attract more agribulk cargoes. An agreement has been struck between Amsterdam City Council and agricultural interests such as Cargill, IGMA and fertilizer company ICL Fertilizers which has secured the Coenhaven, Mercuriushaven and Vlothaven areas for port use until at least 2030. As a result, operators are now moving forward with investment plans that had previously been on hold and this is expected to further boost agribulk and biomass volumes.
 
IGMA AND ICL INVEST IN WAREHOUSING
IGMA already offers two Capesize berths with 15 metres draught and four loading piers for barges and coasters in the Vlothaven. A new 16,000m2 covered storage area at the terminal will now be constructed for additional agribulk, biomass and industrial mineral cargoes. “All the contracts have been signed now the investment horizon is clear,” said de Ridder. “ICL is also looking to increase its warehouse capacity.”
 
MAJA STEVEDORES TO OPEN NEW TERMINAL
Maja Stevedores, mainly known as an operator of floating cranes, also plans to run a new, 30,000m2 terminal. The terminal will handle dry bulk cargoes varying from agribulk to industrial minerals.With a quay length of more than 350 metres, vessels up to Panamax size will be accommodated at the new development. Approximately 14,000m2 of covered storage in high-quality warehousing will provide extra capacity for the handling of moisture sensitive products. “This facility will start operating next year,” added de Ridder.
“A new biomass energy plant is also planned for this area. We’re working on a plan now and in 2012 construction will begin. The plant will supply nearby production facilities with high pressure steam and the city with green heating. Regionally sourced wood pellets, delivered by inland barge, are to be the fuel source for this development.
“We are also looking at building a new gas fired energy plant in 2013 or 2014 and additional biomass investments are expected to follow in due course.”
 
MAJA STEVEDORES AND CCM DEVELOP FLYWHEEL ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM
Maja Stevedores has also made further progress on its retrofit crane technology system developed with the Centre for Concepts in Mechatronics (CCM). This promises huge savings on fuel consumption by capturing energy released during crane operation and re-using it via an innovative flywheel energy storage system. This harvests energy released during a diesel- electric crane’s down cycle which is then stored and drawn down as required for later operations.
In July the flywheel concept was installed on Maja’s ‘Cornelis Tromp’ floating crane, one of seven operated by the company, for final trials. Maja and CCM claim the technology can save up to 60% on crane operating costs and reduce emissions and noise.
“The energy reduction and directly associated CO2 reduction depends strongly on the load cycle and can vary, for example, for floating and mobile harbour cranes, between 20% and 60%,” said CCM. “The absolute energy and emission reduction depends on operational hours and crane size.”
 
YOUR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY PORT
Amsterdam expressly offers space for sustainable energy at the port. The Port of Amsterdam makes sites available for the transshipment and production of sustainable energy, having all the necessary facilities for transshipment. With good accessibility by sea and excellent connections to the hinterland, Amsterdam is also favourably situated for the receipt and delivery of raw materials used in the production of sustainable energy.