Integration of a cooling water outfall in the Rotterdam MV2 port extension

Period:	2007-2009
Location:	The Netherlands
Client:	Rotterdam Port Authorities

assignment/short description

Different functionalities in a new port or port extension can lead to conflicting requirements. For safe and efficient use of a port this requires adequate attention. This project description deals with such a situation, located in the port extension project of Rotterdam called Maasvlakte 2 (MV2).

Presently, a power plant located at the western edge of the existing Port of Rotterdam discharges its cooling water through a permeable breakwater directly into the North Sea. The MV2 port extension, in the form of a new land reclamation, will encompass the outfall location and in the new layout nautical activities are planned to take place nearby. This situation leads to potentially conflicting requirements, since the local flow conditions need to remain acceptable from a nautical point of view, whereas the cooling water circuit of the plant only allows a limited head difference over a diffusor structure. Therefore, the Rotterdam Port Authorities commissioned Deltares to carry out a hydrodynamic study with the aim to optimise the integration of the cooling water outfall in MV2 to ensure that the different port functionalities can be implemented within the space available.

Brochure (PDF)