Amsterdam Sea Lock May Add Special Passage Regime

The National Water Distribution Committee has issued a request for measure scenarios to be formulated, with the aim of limiting saltwater intrusion via the locks at IJmuiden as a result of the drought in the Netherlands.

These scenarios are currently being developed. One possible option is to introduce a special passage regime, whereby filling the locks when empty will be limited as far as possible.

There is a drought in the Netherlands and thus a shortage of fresh water. In the Western Netherlands, this has led to falling water levels in the polders and salinisation issues in the polders and the main water system. There will be no meaningful rainfall in the next two weeks and the situation is expected to worsen.

The salt content in the Amsterdam-Rijn canal may become too high if the drought continues (and the inflow of fresh water is too low). This will also cause problems for drinking water. If this happens, usage of the locks will have to be restricted.

There are then three potential scenarios to limit saltwater intrusion.

Scenario 1: Optimise the passage process: limit empty-lock filling, ease the limitation at the Middensluis lock

Scenario 2: Limit the number of passages with restriction around the time of high water (apart from deep-draught vessels or tugs)

Scenario 3: Stoppage of Noordersluis and Middensluis locks

If water shortages occur, the National Water Distribution Committee makes an allocation of the available national water across the sectors that depend on water, which include agriculture and horticulture, the shipping sector and environmental management. The Committee advises the Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management.

Port of Amsterdam is studying the various scenarios with the Directorate-General and will issue further information as soon as it becomes available. If the restriction scenario comes into operation, we will use our experiences with the shoaling of the Noordersluis lock in 2015 as a guide.