The Port of Rotterdam Authority and PUMA, a joint venture between Royal Boskalis Westminster NV and Van Oord NV, signed a contract for the construction of the site of the Rotterdam Offshore Center Maasvlakte 2.
PUMA, or Projectorganisatie Uitbreiding Maasvlakte, Project Organisation Expansion Maasvlakte, is responsible for the first phase of construction works on the site.
The joint venture will officially start rainbowing on the site on 1 August. A total of some 7 million m³ of sand required for this undertaking will be extracted from offshore sites and port basins, the Port Authority said.
The 70 ha Offshore Center will be built at Prinses Alexiahaven along Maasvlakte 2’s inland basin, and is scheduled to become operational within two years from the start of construction works.
The activities at the Offshore Center will be related to construction, assembly, logistics and heavy lift operations for offshore wind. The center will also cover decommissioning of the oil and gas platforms, as well as the oil and gas market.
Rotterdam Offshore Center Maasvlakte 2 is the very first offshore center in Europe, the Port Authority said. The realisation of the center is said to allow the companies to cluster their activities and benefit from each other’s proximity.
When fully developed, the center will have 1,600 metres of deepsea quays specially built for offshore requirements.