Rotterdam Command Centre upgraded for 24/7 shipping operations
The port of Rotterdam's command centre has received a major upgrade. The Harbour Coordination Centre (HCC) at Kop van Zuid has been renovated and is ready for the future. Here, shipping traffic in one of the busiest ports in the world is monitored day and night.
Some 27,000 sea-going vessels and 93,000 inland vessels pass through the command centre every year. Everything entering and leaving the port of Rotterdam is closely monitored and controlled here.
Command centre runs day and night
Employees at the command centre work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to keep shipping traffic running safely and efficiently. Among other things, they check ships' draughts, dangerous cargoes and current water levels and currents.
This information is used to determine whether a ship can safely enter the port. In addition, the command centre acts as a central reporting point for incidents such as fires, spills and accidents in the port.
The responsibility is great, as one wrong assessment can have major consequences for safety and flow.
Did you know
The command centre coordinates more than 120,000 ship movements every year, from large container ships to inland barges.
Command centre ready for the future
After years of intensive use, it was time for a renovation. The command centre now has a new layout, with more separate rooms for consultation and better workplaces for employees.
A striking innovation is the smart lighting. It adjusts throughout the day and night, so that employees stay sharp and focused even during night shifts. In addition, the room has been acoustically improved, helping to maintain concentration at busy times.
The renovated command centre was officially opened at a ceremony with port alderman Robert Simons and the operational director of the Port of Rotterdam Authority.
For the logistics sector, this investment underlines the importance of safety, efficiency and continuity in the port. You can read more about how transport flows are organised on the page about our services.
With this upgrade, the command centre is again ready to handle the growing traffic in the port of Rotterdam.
