In his New Year's speech, executive director of the Amsterdam Port Authority, Hans Gerson announced that 2001 had proven another record year. Amsterdam Ports, comprising the ports of Amsterdam, Zaanstad, Beverwijk and IJmuiden, achieved a substantial increase of 5 percent to over 67 million tons. This makes Amsterdam Ports among the fastest growing ports in Western Europe. Transhipments in the Port of Amsterdam alone increased by almost 10 percent. Numbers of vessels rose by 2.5 percent to 9,360, underscoring the ongoing increase in scale of shipping to Amsterdam. Some 108 cruise ships visited the port, against 100 in the previous year. Of the 67 million tons, coal represented 18.5 million tons, a 5.8 percent growth. Oil increased by a significant 15.1 percent to 13 million tons.
