In the Netherlands completion of Zoutdam IJmuiden is drawing nearer. During the week of August 19, 2024, the five partition walls were successfully installed in the Binnenspuikanaal of IJmuiden. These five wall segments, each 90 meters wide and 17 meters high, are a critical component of the project. This milestone signifies a significant advance in the creation of the salt dam, which is designed to selectively remove saltwater from the North Sea Canal.
The installation, carried out by contractor Van Hattum en Blankevoort, proceeded without issues. For this task, the crane ship Matador 3 was hired. Over the course of five workdays, the ship placed one wall segment per day. Each segment, approximately 27 meters wide and 8 meters high, weighed between 600 and 900 tons. The walls were stacked on both the left and right sides of the piers, which were installed in March 2024, to a depth of 16 meters. Between the piers, a wall segment was positioned to accommodate a future steel sluice gate. Steel guides were attached to the lower wall sections to ensure smooth water flow without turbulence.
Weather conditions impacted the schedule, with the installation of the third wall segment—initially planned for Friday, August 23—being postponed to Saturday, August 24 due to strong winds. Despite this delay, the installation of the remaining wall segments proceeded smoothly.
To achieve the lowest possible water level in the North Sea Canal, water level management measures were implemented beforehand. This minimized water discharge and ensured minimal flow in the Binnenspuikanaal.
The salt dam plays a crucial role in managing saltwater in the North Sea Canal. Much more saltwater enters the canal through the Zeesluis IJmuiden compared to the Noordersluis. By selectively removing this saltwater, the canal’s salinity is controlled, preventing negative impacts on nature, agriculture, and drinking water. The salt dam acts like a mailbox, directing saltwater out of the canal while keeping freshwater within.
Since saltwater is denser than freshwater, it settles at the bottom. Through an opening at the bottom of the salt dam, the saltwater flows back to the sea via the sluice and pumping complex, while the freshwater remains in the canal.
Looking ahead, the next steps include installing four fish passages in September 2024, followed by the installation of the movable steel sluice gate in October. These fish passages will enable fish to migrate from the sea to the North Sea Canal and vice versa. The sluice gate is necessary to allow maintenance vessels access to the Binnenspuikanaal. The Zoutdam IJmuiden is expected to be operational by the end of 2024.
Source:Rijkswaterstaat.
