Annual data from the Port of Rotterdam shows that the port is getting cleaner, but that much work remains to be done to ensure safety. “We always aim for a seven, now we are below it,” says port master René de Vries in conversation with journalist Martijn de Rijk.
The harbor master’s office concedes just 6.4, a figure lower than last year. This was mainly due to two major accidents: the capsizing of an inland vessel in which a sailor died, and an accident involving the water taxi and a tourist boat under the Erasmus Bridge. “Miracle of wonders, everyone landed safely, but it could have been different,” says De Vries.
Ensuring the security of the port is not easy, recognizes the harbor master’s office. “Obviously we aim for zero accidents. But in Europe’s largest port, where, all told, there are about 1 million ship movements a year, it’s quite a feat. However, that doesn’t mean we don’t do everything we can.’
patriots
A week ago, former NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer told BNR’s Big Five that it was “not a silly idea” to place Patriot defense installations in Rotterdam’s ports to protect against a potential attack from Russia. ‘He knows what he’s talking about, so I take it very seriously. But what is known as harbor master’s office is some concern among port companies about what can happen. Whether it is cyber or other forms of sabotage, I can only applaud more advocacy.’
Source: BNR
Andrew Dwight is an author and economy journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. He has a deep understanding of financial markets and a passion for analyzing economic trends and news. With a talent for breaking down complex economic concepts into easily understandable terms, Andrew has become a respected voice in the field of economics journalism.
