Boskalis has kicked off rainbowing works at the Maasvlakte 2 site, where the Port of Rotterdam is setting up the Rotterdam Offshore Center, dedicated to the offshore wind and oil and gas industries.
The rainbowing is being carried out by Boskalis’ mega cutter Helios, the largest and most powerful cutter suction dredger Boskalis has ever developed, our sister site Dredging Today writes.
The new port site of up to 70 hectares is being created at the Prinses Alexiahaven, along Maasvlakte 2’s inland basin, and is scheduled to become operational within two years from the start of construction works, with the first 30 hectares expected to be delivered in November.
PUMA, or Projectorganisatie Uitbreiding Maasvlakte (Project Organisation Expansion Maasvlakte) – a joint venture between Royal Boskalis Westminster NV and Van Oord NV – is responsible for the first phase of construction works on the site.
The construction of the quay walls will start in mid-2018.
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.
The establishment of the first Offshore Center in Europe fits into the Port Authority’s policy to further develop the Rotterdam cluster of companies in the offshore and maritime sectors, the Port said.
During a press conference on the half-year results on 20 July, Allard Castelein, CEO of the Port Authority announced that 25 candidates have already signed up for the Offshore Center.