How port businesses in Rotterdam can prepare for water challenges
Expert(s) |
Wiebe de Boer
|
Ferdinand Diermanse
Water is essential for the Port of Rotterdam. It is used as a raw material, for cooling industry and as a means of transport for logistics. However, the quality and availability of water are changing, affecting the port, industry and logistics.
Deltares was commissioned by SmartPort, the Port of Rotterdam's knowledge hub, to study various ways in which businesses in the Port of Rotterdam can prepare for these changes.
The state of water is changing
The state of water is changing due to new regulations, changing use, climate change and adjustments in infrastructure. This affects water transport, water quality, water availability and safety against flooding and flooding from extreme precipitation. Deltares has studied what these changes mean for the port and what steps businesses can take to prepare for them. This study is part of the preparation for the SmartPort Summit 2024, where the theme ‘Water & the Port’ is central.
Short- and long-term challenges
The study (in Dutch only) describes several water-related challenges for the Port of Rotterdam, both short- and long-term. For example, during the dry summers of 2018 and 2022, inland shipping companies experienced logistical constraints due to low river water levels. Also, according to the Water Framework Directive, all water bodies in the Netherlands must meet stricter water quality requirements by the end of 2027. Furthermore, businesses need to prepare for lower water availability for their production processes in dry periods.
Multiple challenges result from climate change and sea level rise. We know we will face drier summers, wetter winters and rising sea levels, but the extent of these changes is still uncertain.
Promising measures
There are several measures businesses in the port can take to prepare for these changes. For instance, businesses can adapt their barge fleet to changing river discharges or use water more economically in their industrial processes. There are also national and regional programmes aimed at improving the water system.
