Amsterdam’s Shipping Crisis: Navigational Nightmare Ahead
De Staande Mast Route has become a significant headache in Amsterdam. Bridge blockages are causing serious disruptions, not just for inland vessels but also for specialized transport. The route will be completely closed for about three months in the coming half year.
The government’s handling of planning and communication regarding these disruptions has been criticized as inadequate. This has jeopardized the reliability of inland shipping, leading businesses to consider more environmentally harmful road transport alternatives.
A Contractor Conundrum
Andries de Weerd, regional coordinator for IJsselmeer and North Holland at Koninklijke Binnenvaart Nederland, describes the situation as an intricate puzzle for the shipping industry. Failing contractors have exacerbated the issue, with notable problems at bridges in Ouderkerk and Schiphol. “Are we still the land of bridge builders?” he asks, highlighting the ongoing closure of the Schipholbrug and technical failures affecting the Schinkel bridges on the A10.
“Special transport cannot transit these routes, and the Willemsbrug is also closed for at least another month,” adds de Weerd. Compounding this, the eastern route has been blocked for a year, compelling vessels to reroute to the west. However, repairs to the Spaarne railway bridge will not be complete until October 23, and the Cruquius Bridge will close from November 25 to March.
Extended Layoffs
Troublingly, the Nieuwe Meersluis is also scheduled to close on January 10 for 53 days—information that was announced on short notice. With the western route effectively blocked and the Amstel not providing a viable alternative, the Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal remains the sole option, forcing a lengthy detour.
Waternet emphasizes that the Schinkelbridges on the A10 are inoperable due to technical issues, enforcing a clearance height of 6.35 meters above sea level, with no alternative route available for taller vessels. “Transporting goods is becoming increasingly cumbersome,” laments J. van Vliet from Amsterdam, who has been waiting to ship a significant sand cargo from Markermeer to Lisse for over a month. Road transport remains prohibitively expensive.
Reputation at Stake
As a result of these disruptions, the shipping industry is facing a reputational crisis among clients. “Next time, clients may decide against hiring shipping services,” warns de Weerd. Unexpected surcharges for detours or outright inability to deliver goods is an unwelcome reality. The delayed renovation of the Nieuwe Meersluis has only added to the frustrations.
Operators must meticulously navigate the complexity of closures while attempting to identify alternative routes, often comprising significant additional distances. The challenge has reached a point where some options are now entirely unfeasible.
Regulatory Weaknesses
The North Holland province is aware of the prevailing issues. “There are, besides the Amsterdam-Rijnkanaal, three routes for inland shipping from South Holland to Amsterdam,” states an official spokesperson. “These routes are meant to serve as detours when work is being done on bridges or during system failures.” However, the current situation shows that all three routes regularly face simultaneous closures.
“All works on navigable waterways are coordinated by the various authorities through a process known as RegioRegie,” the spokesperson explained, citing collaboration between all road and waterway managers. However, two unforeseen issues currently plague the system: the Willemsbrug over the Kostverlorenvaart is nonfunctional, and the Nieuwe Meersluis must undergo repairs in January.
The spokesperson added, “Unfortunately, postponing these repairs is not an option, and it now looks like the waterway will be unavailable for 53 days in winter.” The municipality of Amsterdam has linked the Nieuwe Meersluis repair to the Zuidasdok project, making it non-negotiable.
Currently, discussions are ongoing between the province, Amsterdam, and Rijkswaterstaat about potential solutions to minimize disruptions. However, tangible results remain elusive.
Under certain conditions, shipping companies and operators may file damage claims arising from these issues.
