General information

Loodswezen District Amsterdam-IJmond operates in the Amsterdam-Noordzeekanaal area and the ports of Den Helder and Scheveningen. Every year more than 14.000 vessels are piloted.

Particulars

The Amsterdam-Noordzeekanaal area has a length of 32 kilometres, from the entrance to the port of IJmuiden up to the entrance to the Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal. The harbour of IJmuiden is in the vicinity of the entrance. The harbour of steel manufacturer Corus and the transit/berth ‘IJ-palen’ are accessible for vessels with a maximum draft of 16,5 m. The locks (Noordzeesluizen) give access to the ports of Velsen, Beverwijk, Zaanstad and Amsterdam. Maximum dimensions of vessels navigating the Noordzeekanaal are 325 m length over all, 45 m width and 14 m draft in fresh water.

The port of Den Helder is accessible for vessels with a maximum draft of 9 m. The transport of pilots to incoming vessels in the western part of the Waddenzee up to the boundary of Vlierede- Harlingen-Kornwerderzand is also handled from Den Helder. Vessels with destination Scheveningen can take their pilot at pilot station IJmuiden.

Activities

Loodswezen District Amsterdam-IJmond provides nautical expertise on a consultancy basis as a contribution to the development and realisation of various projects within and outside the Amsterdam- Noordzeekanaal area. It already contributed towards the research into a (possible) new wide lock, a new container terminal, 3rd harbour, ‘Afrika’ harbour and other projects which have led to a greater accessibility of the area. In order to support such projects, Loodswezen District Amsterdam-IJmond uses a Multi Task Simulator which is also used for training purposes.

Adequate solutions

Shipping is a 24-hour business, even in adverse weather conditions. When a pilot cannot be transferred with a pilot tender, he will, if possible, be transferred by helicopter. Otherwise vessels, which meet the requirements, will be piloted up to the entrance to IJmuiden by means of Shore-Based Pilotage, with the use of radar and VHF.

The IJ-channel

 In 1984 the IJ-channel was dredged in the approach to IJmuiden. The IJ-channel is 450 m wide and it can accommodate so-called channel vessels with a draft between 13,7 m and 16,5 m. Embarkation of these channel vessels always takes place by helicopter at the ‘Heli rendez-vous’ point, about 25 nautical miles off the entrance to the port. Channel vessels are tide bound. In order to safeguard optimum safety and a smooth handling of channel traffic, channel vessels are always piloted by two specially trained channel pilots who have state-of-the-art navigational equipment at their disposal.