9 February 2006; Rotterdam: Today’s ceremonial driving of the first pile marks the start of the construction work on the Port of Rotterdam’s largest jetty to date. The Port of Rotterdam and Vopak are collaborating in the construction of the new jetty at Vopak’s terminal in the Europoort (the 7e petroleum haven). This new jetty is being constructed to accommodate the growth in deliveries of oil products to and from the Port of Rotterdam.

Rob Nijst, President of Vopak Oil EMEA, states: "We are extremely pleased with the construction of this new jetty, which constitutes an essential element of our growth strategy for Vopak's Rotterdam oil terminals. In response to the growing demand for the storage of oil products we are currently constructing additional tanks for the storage of fuel oil and the storage of jet fuel. This additional capacity gives cause to the need for a new jetty for efficient deliveries to and from the terminal."

* Length: 653 metres
* 2 berths for seavessels up to 150.000 dwt (can be used for barges as well)
* 2 berths for barges up to 20.000dwt
* 4 fuel oil loading arms 12" for seavessels (2 per berth)
* 4 fuel oil loading arms 10" for barges (1 per berth)
* 1 jet/gasoil loading arm 16" for seavessels
* 2 jet loading arms 10" for barges
* 1 gasoil loading arm 10" for barges

The depth of this area of the Port is such that extra long piles are required for the jetty. The jetty will rest on a total of 186 steel piles (of diameters of as much as nearly 1 m and lengths to almost 50 m). A further 43 steel piles (of diameters to 3m and lengths in excess of 50 m) will be required for the catwalks, fender walls and bollards.