Under supervision of Amsterdam Port Alderman Mark van der Horst, project team Sea Access IJmuiden is offering a prize of 120,000 euro to the person or organisation that comes up with feasible alternatives for the construction of a new sea lock at IJmuiden.

The international competition is being held because Transport Minister Peijs until now refuses to consider payment of the 800 million euro necessary for the construction of the new sea locks. She has been most reticent as a result of the national Central Planning Office (CPB) estimating that the returns will never cover the costs.

Consortia of contractors, hydraulic engineers and financiers can participate in the competition. The only requirements are that vessels 55 metres wide can access the new lock, and that the maximum waiting time at the locks is 45 minutes. The competition must also provide possible ‘smart financing’ scenarios.