The Maeslant barrier University of Salford

School of the Built Environment

MSc - Project Management in
Construction
Storm Surge Barrier at Hoek van Holland, Process and Project Systems

The Netherlands
Student:
Gert-Jan Roelevink
Student ID: 00447594
Mob: +971 503934591
Project Introduction E: G.J.Roelevink@edu.salford.ac.uk

24/04/2024 1
  1953: North Sea flood
Flooding large parts of Holland

History and
purpose of the
project
 1958: Implementation of the
“Delta Act” to protect the
country from the sea by means of
a series of dams.

Maeslant barrier

Delta Act, location of dams

 1986: All dams completed except for dam in the “Nieuwe Waterweg” at
Maeslant, Hoek van Holland.
 1997: Completion of the Maeslant barrier, final piece of the Delta Works.

24/04/2024 2
 1. Protect the City and Port of Rotterdam against
storm surges (close the waterway).
Project 2. Allow uninterrupted access for ships to the Port of
Rotterdam during normal weather conditions
functional (Open the waterway: width of 360m).
requirements 3. Allow quick and easy maintenance of the structure.
4. Operation without human interference.
5. Anticipated closure conditions interval: 1/10 yrs.
6. Design storm event with 1/10,000 yrs. exceedence
frequency
7. Required structural life time of 100 yrs.

Vessel passing through the opened barrier

24/04/2024 3
Iconic nature 1. Protecting 3.5 million people and
one of the largest ports against
storm surges.
2. One of the largest moving
structures in the world.
3. Operates automatically, without
human interference. Computer
decides to initiate dam closure.
4. Closing a 360m wide channel.
5. Two 210m long gates with 237m
long arms. Standing upright,
same length as the Eiffel Tower.
6. One of the first large Design and
Build contracts in the
Netherlands.

24/04/2024 4
 6 3
Main
7
structural 1

elements 6 1
2

4 7

3 5

1. Steel Sector Gates

2. Sill and bottom protection
3. Parking dry dock
4. Abutment
5. Control Centre
6. Ball joint foundation
7. Locomobile and guidance tower
24/04/2024 5
The Building 1. Tendering procedure based on functional requirements.
process
2. Contractor responsibilities:
- Engineering, Design
- Construction
- Testing and commissioning

3. Project schedule:
(1 year delay in the design phase due to resonance problems)

4. Total final project cost: € 395 million

24/04/2024 6
Approach  The project has been carried out with a Design and
Build type of contract (at that time unusual for large
infrastructural works in the Netherlands).
 This allowed contractors to use their expertise to come
up with innovative/inventive solutions.
 Maintenance is the responsibility of the owner
(Rijkswaterstaat: Dutch Public Works and Water
Management Authority).
 Since maintenance is a large part of the overall cost
during the lifetime of the structure, it would have been
an opportunity to capture this requirement within the
tendering stage and make cost effective maintenance,
integrated in the design a responsibility of the
contractor.
 DBM type approach focusses on the full life cycle of the
structure.

24/04/2024 7