History of Quay Walls in Rotterdam
Developments in the port of Rotterdam in relation to the history of quay wall construction in the world
by: Ir. J.G. de Gijt - Delft University of Technology / Gemeentewerken Rotterdam
Abstract
During the last 150 years the Port of Rotterdam has grown to one of the major ports in the world. To make this growth possible it is necessary to adapt the design of port facilities like jetties, quay walls and the loading and unloading facilities to these changing requirements. The commodities are handled now in a completely different way, more specialization, then in the past. An excellent example of such a change is the introduction in the sixties of last century of the container. |
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The challenge for the designer is to cope with these changes. The paper of mr. De Gijt gives an overview of the development in the design and construction techniques of port infrastructure from around 150 years ago up to present in the port of Rotterdam with reference to the development of world trade. Typical examples of solutions generated in the port of Rotterdam to overcome difficulties are described. Further the paper indicates some possible future developments in port development and quay wall design.
Introduction
History teaches us that sea going has been taking place for a very long time, certainly since 3000 BC. This practice started in delta areas such as those of the Nile, Tigris, Euphrates, Indus and Yellow rivers. Following this there was a long period of trading carried out by the Arabs, Indians and Chinese. In the Mediterranean Sea the Phoenicians and the later the Romans established an intensive trading network. The Phoenicians also extended their activities to England in order to obtain tin.
Before the Western voyages of discovery, these traders had the monopoly in transporting the products of Asia to Europe. This monopoly was broken after the overland journey to China of Marco Polo. The Chinese navigator, Cheng Ho had already reached Africa ca 100 years earlier than the Portuguese ,Spanish and Dutch. The voyages of explorations were prompted by the fact that Venice enjoyed a monopoly because it could import and sell the same goods as the Arabs had been doing over the centuries. The same situation also arose later in northern Europe, where for 500 years the Hanseatic ports maintained a monopoly over trade between western Europe and the Baltic area.
| At that time the Dutch were also trading with southern Europe. Bruges, Antwerp and Amsterdam were the large ports of that time. Between 1602 and 1800 the VOC was coordinated from Amsterdam. The VOC was the first multinational and for long time had a monopoly on trade in goods from Asia, but in the end that too was broken, being partially taken over by the English. From the start of the industrial revolution there was a rapid rate of change throughout the world and the countries become much more closely dependent on each other. |
The evolution of the city and the port of Rotterdam from the 14th century to the present is described. The city changed from a fishing harbour to a main port in 600 years. These changes were possible through the contributions of several entrepreneurial people both from the private and as well as the elder man of the city.
The port facilities both ware houses, terrains, railways - and road facilities as well as the waterways have continuously adapted to the changing requirements.
This present position has been acquired by the development of the design and construction techniques that to cope with increasing depths and increasing loads and increasing ship dimensions. A few examples of construction techniques used in the past and present are described and discussed. A glance to other quay wall structures built in the past will made to place the developments in perspective. Further a glance for the anticipated future in relation to port construction will be indicated.