© AYOP
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, the province of Noord-Holland, the municipality of Velsen, Tata Steel, Seaport IJmuiden and Port of Amsterdam have agreed to transform the Averijhaven port area nearby IJmuiden into an Energy Port. A covenant was signed today for this purpose. With its strategic position, this Energy Port could support, amongst others, in the construction and maintenance of the future offshore wind farms Hollandse Kust West and IJmuiden Ver.
The Energy Port will cover over 15 hs and include a multi-functional port terminal. The current Averijhaven area and the adjacent 5 hs of Tata Steel will be used to create a public port area. The port area will have a 580 m quay, of which 200 m heavy-duty with a water depth of 12.5 m and a 380 m regular quay with a water depth of 10 m.
Beside supporting the future offshore wind farms, the Energy Port could also play a role in the support of other offshore activities. There are still around 190 oil and gas platforms of which some could be used for Co2 or hydrogen storage. The remaining platforms will have to be dismantled at some point. The Energy Port will also play an important role in space optimisation and strengthening of the port infrastructure in the region.
The signing of the covenant is a first step towards the realisation of the Energy Port. At the moment it is a State dredging sludge depot. To transform it into a port area it will first have to be emptied by the Department of Waterways and Public Works. At the same time, an environmental impact assessment will have to be performed. Source: AYOP
