Haven Amsterdam

Legislation and regulations

Rules are enforced to ensure swift, safe and environmentally friendly shipping traffic. Here is an overview of the regulations you need to observe if you require a mooring place at the port of Amsterdam or if you plan to sail into one of the ports in the region.

Supervision Reform & Regional Port Regulation for the North Sea Canal area (in Dutch: Vernieuwing Toezicht & Regionale Havenverordening Noordzeekanaalgebied).

The 'Port of Amsterdam 4'Within the Dutch national Supervision Reform Program (Vernieuwing Toezicht), the Harbour Masters of the Amsterdam North Sea Canal region (the CNB region) and the Harbour Master of Rotterdam, cooperate with the national inspectorates to establish more effective supervisory practices, and reduce the burden on companies.

The Port of Amsterdam is the coordinating supervisor for inspections on board sea-going vessels and for port security in the Amsterdam North Sea Canal area. Within these domains, it works together with other supervisors.

The Port Authority also works with other supervisory bodies on matters concerning inland shipping. Within this domain, it participates in the inland shipping front office.

One desk for the Regional Port Regulation for the North Sea Canal area

Further to Supervision Reform, the cooperation between the harbour masters in the Amsterdam North Sea Canal area has gained further shape.

As of 12 July 2011 one desk is to be operational for the Regional Port Regulation for the North Sea Canal area. This means that Central Nautical Management will not only be the contact address for shipping traffic handling within the region, but also the desk to contact for all operational port management issues resulting from the Regional Port Regulation for the North Sea Canal area. On behalf of the municipalities of Amsterdam, Beverwijk, Velsen and Zaanstad, Central Nautical Management (CNM) will be handling the requests for permits and exemptions from the Regional Port Regulation for the North Sea Canal area 24/7. In addition, the Central Nautical Management will be the reporting centre for all operational reports that prevail by virtue of this regulation. The nautical sector of the Port of Amsterdam will be responsible for implementation.

Read the announcement to shipping for the request for permit & exemption procedure and the right telephone numbers as well as the VHF channels for operational reports.

If you have questions you may call the Port of Amsterdam, the Environment & Security Supervision department (Toezicht Milieu & Veiligheid) on 020-6221515.

Supervision

The supervisory activities of the Nautical Sector staff involve the following areas of special attention:

Sea-going vessels

Inland shipping

Operational safety, Port regulations

In addition to national and international regulations, local regulations also apply. The local regulations for the Port of Amsterdam are laid down in the "2010 Regional Port Bye-laws" (Rhv 2010) and it's explanatory notes. Sections 2 to 5 of the Inland Waterway Regulation 2010 also prevail for the Port Water. Inland Waterway Regulation 2010 (in Dutch) and the Explanatory Memorandum on the Inland Waterway Regulation 2010 (in Dutch).

 

The Regional Port Regulation for the North Sea Canal area 2010 was laid down late in 2009/ early in 2010 for each municipality by the city councils of Amsterdam, Beverwijk, Velsen and Zaanstad.

Each municipality has its own (officially legal) version of the Regional Port Regulation for the North Sea Canal area. Content-wise however all versions are the same which means the same (commercial) shipping rules prevail in all ports along the North Sea Canal.

In addition to transparency for port users, the safety level at the ports is increased at the same time. Having one desk is expected to ensure less administrative burden, unequivocal services, supervision and enforcement.

Mooring policy for sea-going vessels

In accordance with the regulations on communication and pilotage requests for sea-going vessels (RCLZ), all sea-going vessels with a destination in one of the harbours in the Amsterdam North Sea Canal area, including the offshore control area (anchorage), must submit the necessary information at least 24 hours in advance.

These notifications can be submitted via the electronic Port Community System (Portbase), but also by fax form.  

The compulsory notifications are:

  1. pre-arrival notification (appendices 2 and 3 of the RCLZ);
  2. notification of dangerous and hazardous goods for sea-going vessels, that transport these substances as cargo (appendices 1 and 3 of the RCLZ);
  3. pre-arrival information for Port Security (regulation 9 paragraph 2 SOLAS);
  4. port waste notification (appendix 4 of the RCLZ).

Based on the provided information it is checked whether the sea-going vessel in question can and may berth at the requested mooring. The Port Authority's Maritime department also consults the other port authorities in the region. The statutory basis for the rules governing mooring locations is laid down in the port regulations of the different ports. If the information provided gives reason to denie permission, then the Maritime department will contact the vessel or its legal representative, the shipping agent.

For more information on the application procedure for sea-going vessels, please go to Report of arrival.

Pilotage regulations

The regulations for pilotage are, by law, set per region or per waterway. In the Amsterdam region, pilotage is compulsory for:

  • vessels over 75 metres, excluding navy vessels and dredgers;
  • vessels with dangerous goods in the bulk.

In some cases you can apply for an exemption of compulsory pilotage.

Please visit IJmond Pilotage for more information on pilotage, exemptions, rates and specific rules for the Amsterdam-IJmond region.

Port Security

Terrorist threats can seriously disrupt society. This not only occurs via direct terror like attacks but also via indirect threats. International seaports and large goods flows form vulnerable targets. The ISPS Code is an international regulation that requires measures to be taken on behalf of the security of vessels and port facilities. The 'Port Security' team, which resides under the Department for Supervision, Environment and Safety (TMV), supervises compliance with ISPS legislation. Read more...

Dangerous goods

One of the Port of Amsterdam's key tasks is to ensure that it remains an environmentally-friendly port. The Dangerous Goods & Environmental Control team (GS&M). This team, which resides under the Department for Supervision, Environment and Safety (TMV), executes this task. Team GS&M it's tasks both regionally and within the Municipality of Amsterdam. Read more …

Ship-generated waste

The rules and regulations of the Port Waste Plan apply to the disposal of ship-generated waste in the North Sea Canal area. The Port Waste Plan describes the organisation, processes, notifications, Port reception facilities and rates that apply in the North Sea Canal area.

Every vessel that enters the area must pay a charge, even if it is not disposing of any waste. After payment the vessel has a so called waste allowance which the vessel can use to dispose of a certain amount of ship-generated waste.

Read more information on the disposal of ship-generated waste.

Overview the Port reception facilities

Please see our telephone numbers and other contact information.

Mooring policy for inland shipping

Amsterdam is a busy port; it is the second biggest port of the Netherlands and the fifth largest in Europe. Every year around 40,000 inland vessels and 9,000 sea-going vessels visit the Port of Amsterdam. Amsterdam also serves as an important shipping traffic hub for through traffic. The enormous growth in transhipment volumes and increase in sea-going and inland shipping has resulted in greater pressure on the mooring facilities in Amsterdam.

The Port of Amsterdam has responded in time to this situation by adding a number of berths this year. The increase in activities also means closer supervision is needed. Like in most Dutch bodies of water, the 'Binnenvaartpolitiereglement' (Inland Waterways Police Regulations - BPR) apply in the Port of Amsterdam and the North Sea Canal area. Additionally, the 2010 Regional Port Bye-laws (Rhv 2010) is in force to the port and inland waterways. The regulations apply next to the BPR. More information on exemptions, permits and mooring policy.

Permits for special transport can be applied via Rijkswaterstaat, the Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management, which  will forward the application to the waterway managers concerned.

The Port of Amsterdam has several berths that are located near Central Station.  

The Port of Amsterdam has several berths that are located near Central Station.

A reservation arrangement applies to these berths as indicated on the designated signs.

Every year around 1,000 river cruise vessels Amsterdam make use of the reservation arrangement. This arrangement is subject to a reservation fee. These costs are charged irrespectively of the port dues. Vessels berthing in Amsterdam are responsible for making sure they pay the port dues.

More information

Please find our telephone numbers and other contact information here.

Convention on Collection, Storage and Disposal of Waste Water (officially known as CDNI)

On 1 November 2009 the Convention on Collection, Storage and Disposal of Waste Water Generated during Navigation on the Rhine and other Inland Waterways (or SAV in Dutch) came into force. The participating countries are Germany, Belgium, France, Luxemburg, Switzerland and the Netherlands. The convention is aimed at protecting the environment and increasing safety for inland vessels and persons on board. For the Netherlands the convention has been worked out into legislation on ship-generated waste. To enforce these measures within the Amsterdam port area, the Port Authority will conduct environmental inspections on board inland vessels. Read more …

Shipping Traffic Act

All vessels on Dutch inland waterways must comply with the rules pursuant to the Shipping Traffic Act. For example, the Inland Waterways Police Regulations (BPR) apply to the west of IJmuiden's locks until the heads of the new piers. Outside the piers, the Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea apply. Employees in Port Authority's surveillance vessels enforce this legislation.

Transport of hazardous substances via inland vessels

The Port of Amsterdam conducts inspections on the transport of dangerous goods via inland shipping. Reason for conducting these inspections is first of all safety. As a result of several serious accidents involving inland vessels, there is currently a heightened focus on safety. The second reason is that the Port Authority takes its responsibility as as port manager. As a result of these inspections, the Port Authority has insight in the possibilities and bottlenecks concerning the transport of hazardous substances by inland shipping sector in its port.

Loading and unloading operations on inland tankers are subjected to inspections. A special team of port officials is responsible for conducting these inspections.

Bunkering

To prevent the pollution of harbour water, the Municipal Executive has drawn up rules for bunkering. These rules were compiled on the basis of the Regulation on the port and inland waterways 2006 of the Municipality of Amsterdam. Under these rules, one is required to fill in a so-called bunker check list before taking bunkers. The check list was drawn up in consultation with bunkering companies and the refuelling sector's interest group, NOVE. The Port Authority's employees randomly inspect these completed check lists, and compliance with the check list's regulations.

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