Sea Lock IJmuiden, IJmuiden, The Netherlands

After nearly 100 years, the existing Noordersluis at the entrance of the North Sea Canal reached the end of its technical lifespan and became too small for larger sized vessels. The new, larger sea lock intends to improve accessibility to the port of Amsterdam and stimulate the economy in the region by providing space for increasingly larger seagoing vessels independent of the tides. The new sea lock is 70 meters wide, 500 meters long, and 18 meters deep and is currently world’s largest sea lock. The new lock is expected to have a lifespan of 100 years.

Rijkswaterstaat [Dutch Government] awarded the construction of the new sea lock to OpenIJ JV. The consortium is responsible for designing, building, financing, and maintaining the new sea lock for a period of 26 years. DMC and Volker Infra Design as part of the JV, work together with Arcadis, Royal Haskoning, DHV, Iv-Infra, ZUS, Delta PI and Nspyre within the designcooperation of BAM Infraconsult and Volker Infra Design. 

'How do they do it'

Discovery made a video together with Rijkswaterstaat [Dutch Government] about Sealock IJmuiden. Watch the video below.

If you wish to learn more about this project or on questions you have regarding coastal protection, please contact Emma Gibert Suné, Head of Maritime Structures Department at DMC:  emma.gibertsune@bam.com