Port of Amsterdam challenged by 397 metre long ship

The IJmuiden sea lock has passed a major test. The MV Solitaire, a 397-metre-long ship, is en route to the Amsterdam port and passed the 400-metre-long Noordersluis. The vessel used for laying subsea pipelines is on its way to Amsterdam for major maintenance and modifications. The ship is currently berthed in the Amerika Haven at the USATerminal/ Dutch Offshore Base.

The large vessel is used to deburr, line up and weld together pipes. The pipes are then guided to the bottom of the sea via a stinger. The vessel can carry around 22,000 tonnes of pipe sections and in a day, up to nine kilometres of pipes can be laid to a depth of three kilometres.

Port is proud
In a press release, the Port of Amsterdam writes: "with the choice of Conquest Offshore BV late last year for the Port of Amsterdam as home port for the 1400-tonne crane vessel Conquest MB1, the desired connection with the offshore industry is coming into place. Amsterdam's central and strategic location, including near Schiphol Airport, the tidal port of Amsterdam and the desire to serve the offshore industry from Amsterdam has been decisive for the establishment of Dutch Offshore Base, based at Ter Haak Group's large terminal."

Yes we can!
Director and owner of Dutch Offshore Base, Michiel Zwagerman, is proud that the port was able to handle the job. "Because of the presence of the crane vessel the MB1, it was a very natural choice for us to offer Allseas to do the modifications and substructure of the Solitaire here. The knowledge and experience is there and, perhaps most importantly, the `yes we can' mentality to lock the 397-metre Solitaire into a 400-metre lock shows great confidence."

Impulse for Amsterdam
Koen Overtoom, operational director Port of Amsterdam, concurs with Zwagerman: "We are very proud of the arrival of the Solitaire because it will give the offshore activities in our port a great impulse. This is good for employment. Partly due to the daring, vision and commercial spirit of the companies in the region, the arrival of the Solitaire provides great added value to the Amsterdam port, the city and the region."

The ship is expected to return to sea in summer 2016.

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