The first offshore ship arrived at the new Franklin Offshore quay on the Heysehaven, at the Port of Rotterdam on Tuesday 28 October, marking the semi-official reinstatement of Heysehaven as an offshore port.
The first vessel to arrive at the quay was the Aker Wayfarer, a vessel equipped to build offshore structures.
The Aker Wayfarer came to the port of Rotterdam to pick up an Ampelmann from the company of the same name.
Ampelmann – Franklin Offshore’s neighbour on RDM – is an offshore company that is specialised in an active compensating platform that makes the transfer from a moving ship to an offshore structure easier.
The company opened its new commercial premises in the renovated Onderzeebootloods (submarine shed) in September.
The Port of Rotterdam Authority is currently transforming this old area into an ‘RDM Centre of Expertise’ and technical education, knowledge centres and businesses are working together on sustainable innovations which are needed for the Rotterdam economy.
The Port Authority said it aims to make RDM the number one innovation centre for the manufacturing industry in Rotterdam.
During the last century, this port area was also used for that purpose.
Press Release; Image: Port of Rotterdam/Ries van Wendel de Joode