Sea-going vessels will face a temporary prohibition from utilising the Parkkade and Lloydkade docks in central Rotterdam starting 20 October.
This follows an evaluation by the European Commission, which identified that the existing security measures at these public berths do not meet the standards.
Approximately 1,700 sea-going vessels utilise the public berths at Parkkade annually, while 400 ships dock at Lloydkade.
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The European Commission will also extend its investigation to other Dutch public docks.
The scrutiny centres on the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code), which has governed security for sea-going vessels and the port facilities that receive them since 2004. The code primarily focuses on the security measures at the “ship-shore interface,” demanding safeguards for both the vessels and the port facilities.
The security measures at Parkkade and Lloydkade initially included camera surveillance due to their location within a public space, their proximity to inhabited areas, and the protected cityscape.
A discrepancy in the interpretation and implementation of European laws and regulations between the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and the Port of Rotterdam Authority led the European Commission to deem this measure inadequate.
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In response, the Port of Rotterdam Authority is actively exploring alternative (public) docks for the sea-going vessels that typically use Parkkade and Lloydkade. Simultaneously, efforts are underway to devise and implement security measures that would eventually permit sea-going vessels to return to these public docks.
The duration of this temporary restriction remains uncertain, but updates on the situation’s progress will be communicated to stakeholders.
