The IJmuiden sea lock, the largest sea lock in the world, was opened on Wednesday 26 January by King Willem-Alexander. The new, larger sea lock replaces the Noorder lock dating from 1929. The aim is to improve the accessibility of the Port of Amsterdam and stimulate the region’s economy by providing space for the ever-larger ocean-going vessels. The IJmuiden lock is 500 metres long, 70 metres wide and 18 metres deep.
Contract
Hollandia Infra is (commissioned by OpenIJ) the proud builder of the drive mechanism that opens and closes the 72 meter long lock gates. These movements are driven by means of a gigantic rail (penstock). An upper and lower roller carriage drive over the rails that slide the doors. Hollandia Infra made the pin conveyors, two upper rollers and three lower rollers for both lock gates.
The dimensions of these upper rollers are 14 x 7 x 5,5 meter and they weigh 200 tons each. The two top roller cars are attached to the two operational lock gates and drive the lock gates with a total of 6 hydraulic motors. This is done by driving wheels, so-called bonkelaars, which act on a pin track, pushing the door back and forth over the threshold.
Want to know more about this project? Then take a look at the project page of Zeesluis IJmuiden.