The shipping platform

Location: The port of IJmuiden is situated at the entrance to the North Sea Canal, on the mid North Sea coast, 16 n.m. W of Amsterdam. General overview: The port has become a major North Sea supply centre for the offshore oil, gas and wind farm fields. The port handles ore, coal, frozen products, offshore material, wood products, steel products, potatoes, seafood products and passenger/cruise vessels. Ijmuiden provides an alternative way in which to reach Amsterdam from the northeast of England. Ferry crossings run from Ijmuiden to Newcastle in England, and are provided by DFDS Seaways. Two ships run this route, with an overnight sailing in each direction and a journey time of 15 hours. It is a tidal harbour and the access to the ports of the North Sea Canal, Velsen, Beverwijk, Zaandam ( also known as Zanstad) and Amsterdam through the Noordzeesluizen. The Outer Port of IJmuiden consists of the following harbours: Outer Harbours No 1, 2, 3 and 4; Fishery Harbour (2 basins); IJmond Harbour (1 basin), Sea Port Marina (a large marina). The Inner Port of the North Sea Canal area, accessed through the locks, consist of the following harbours: Steel Harbour, Inner Harbours No 1, 2 and 3; Velsen Terminal, several offshore bases and the port of Beverwijk. 6 terminals are available: Tata Steel (4 berths), Van Laar Shipyard (2 berths), ENCI Ijmuiden (2 berths), Cebo Holland (1 berth), Outer Harbour (8 berths), Felison Cruise Terminal (2 berths). A new (world's largest) sealock is currently under construction at IJmuiden (North Sea Canal's entrance). The new facility will provide access to Port Amsterdam even to the world's largest cruise vessels. The new sealock has length of 500 m (1640 ft), width 70 m (230 ft) and depth / max draft 18 m (59 ft), ranking it the world’s largest. The lock complex consists of 4 locks as follows: - North Lock: Length: 400 m; Width: 50 m; Sill (minus NAP): 15 m. - Middle Lock: Length: 222 m; Width: 25 m; Sill (minus NAP): 10 m. - South Lock: Length: 111 m; Width: 18 m; Sill (minus NAP): 8 m. - Small Lock: Length: 111 m; Width: 11 m; Sill (minus NAP): 3.5 m. Traffic figures: Approx 3,200 vessels, 18,876,000t of cargo, 5,000TEU and 500,000 passengers handled annually. Load line zone: North Atlantic Winter Seasonal Zone II, Winter Nov 1 to Mar 31, Summer Apr 1 to Oct 31. Max size: Max draughts: The IJ Geul Channel and IJmuiden Outer Harbour permit draughts up to 16.5m (SW). North lock and the North Sea Canal: Draughts up to 13.7m (SW). For Lock passage: - Without exemption: Length: 350 m; Beam: 42 m; Draught: 13.1 m. - With exemption: Length: 350 m; Beam: 45 m; Draught: 13.7 m. - Fishery Harbour: Draughts up to 10.0m. - Beverwijk: Draught 8.5m. Max draughts as per vessel type: - Breakbulk: Depth 12.0 m. (tidal). - Passengers: Depth 7.4 m. (tidal). - Ro-Ro: Depth 9.6 m. (tidal). - Bulk: Draft 17.8 m. (tidal). The largest vessel called at the port: LOA: 326 m, draught: 16.5 m, deadweight: 208,445 t.