Netherlands: The Maasgeul navigation channel is to be expanded to prevent waiting times for ships entering the Port of Rotterdam.
The Maasgeul channel is the North Sea access route for sea-going ships that have a draught of more than 14.3 metres, which are calling at Rotterdam in increasing numbers. The Maasgeul is ten kilometres long and currently 500-600 metres wide. It will be widened by another 240 metres so that by the summer of 2012, large sea-going ships will be able to pass each other.
Harbour master René de Vries announced the plan during the presentation of the nautical annual figures for 2011.