PORT OF ROTTERAM’S DE NOOIJER: IMPLEMENTING CLIMATE ADAPTATION WITH PORT TENANTS

BY STAS MARGARONIS

Joost de Nooijer is a civil engineer and project manager for the Flood Risk Management program at Port of Rotterdam.

He says cooperation has been a key element in developing future flood risk strategies and climate adaptation plans.

As a result of the acceleration in the rise of sea levels, the Port of Rotterdam is developing strategies for the port area and facilities to anticipate for long-term risks. This is based on the theory that it is better to make the investment before the risks are too high rather than pay the costs of a disaster later.

Joost has already “worked out strategies together with companies like Shell, Exxon Mobil and British Petroleum and will begin working with container terminals in the Maasvlakte complex.”

Joost is also responsible for the technical management of port development projects, including the construction of quay walls, jetties and other maritime infrastructure:

“The Port of Rotterdam has a dredging company under contract to perform maintenance dredging of all fairways and port facilities. This allows the Port to keep all berths and ship channels fully operational at all times.”