Basic maintenance of the North Sea Canal in the Netherlands
Published on 09 October 2024
Rijkswaterstaat (the Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management) has awarded the contract for the basic maintenance of the North Sea Canal to the consortium SAEM, consisting of SPIE Nederland and BAM Infra Nederland.
The contract includes all civil engineering works in the North Sea Canal and side canals, including the pumping station and drainage sluices in IJmuiden, the lock complex in Schellingwoude, and the Buitenhuizerbrug and Amsterdamsebrug bridges. Rijkswaterstaat has awarded this complex task in a two-stage contract, with the emphasis being on integrated collaboration with the SAEM consortium. The award is for six years, with a possible extension of four years. During the first year, they will work together to define the ambitions and asset management objectives for the next ten years. The implementation phase of the maintenance project will then start in mid-July 2025. The lock complex at IJmuiden, including the assets in the North Sea Canal, is outdated. This presents a significant and challenging task in terms of the renewal and renovation work. In addition to large shipping, the Amsterdam side of the North Sea Canal is also used for recreational boating.
A different way of collaborating on a complex task
The North Sea Canal basic maintenance contract is a two-phase contract. Rijkswaterstaat is collaborating with the SAEM consortium (“saem” means 'leave' in Portuguese, symbolising the journey we will undertake together with Rijkswaterstaat on this project) on pioneering asset management, during which time we will gradually grow with each other over the next ten years to achieve the goals and ambitions and ultimately move towards an ecosystem for a better North Sea Canal.
“ The maintenance work in this area is so complex and extensive that we have been searching for a different way of working together.”
"The maintenance work in this area is so complex and extensive that we have been searching for a different way of working together. We are entering into this far-reaching collaboration with SPIE and BAM. They will also call on other partners in this area to strengthen their knowledge. In the first phase of this two-phase contract, we will work out the basic contract together, so that next year we will have a contract that all parties are happy with. And, just as importantly, one that enables us to tackle the complex challenge at hand. In short, it's a great opportunity!", continues Franck van der Hell.
Safe flow and water management in the North Sea Canal area
The North Sea Canal area is a complex and economically important area running from IJmuiden to Amsterdam. At IJmuiden, this canal contains the largest pumping station in Europe, which ensures that the majority of the Netherlands remains dry. It is therefore crucial to guarantee the accessibility, secure availability and reliability of this North Sea Canal area. By improving the mapping of the area data and undertaking overdue maintenance on the assets, we are taking asset management to the next level. At the same time, we are carrying out the maintenance tasks and activities needed to safeguard the important function of this area.
Completing the puzzle together
A key focus in the basic maintenance contract is data-driven asset management, which SPIE and BAM are developing together. Jaap van den Elshout, asset manager at BAM Infra Nederland, and Joost Kruis, project manager at SPIE, recognise the added value that each party contributes: "We complement each other well and have both been working in this area for years, BAM on the IJmuiden sea lock project and SPIE under the current contract. Within this North Sea Canal contract, we share the ambition of data-driven asset management, and we each have a piece of the puzzle to complete the whole. As the SAEM consortium, we have been contributing our project experiences to this project over the past few years. Together, we are giving a real boost to its long-term development. We now know the area inside out."
“ We have demonstrated that we have the right knowledge and expertise in-house, which allowed us to convince Rijkswaterstaat that we were the right partners in terms of collaboration and asset management. Together with Rijkswaterstaat, we are ready for the large and complex task ahead of us.”