Rotterdam is a city located in southwest Netherlands and is the second-largest city next to Amsterdam. On the Atlantic Ocean, the Rotterdam port is one of the busiest in the world. The actual port itself is located Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta in the North Sea. The city itself is actually located a few miles inland of the Atlantic Ocean, with a few locks separating the city proper from the expanse.
Traditionally, Rotterdam is a port city but it is also a bustling metropolis with restaurants and museums. Its population is over 600,000 as of 2010. Although it is no longer the busiest port in the world, it is one of the premium ports due to its proximity to the European Union economy. One of the benefits of using the Port of Rotterdam is its experience in the universal business language of English.
Geographically, the first strait to enter the Port of Rotterdam is the Nieuwe Waterweg, or New Waterway. This general is also referred to as the Europort. Upon entering Rotterdam via ship, the first landmark is the Maasvlakte. The Maasvlakte is a man-made sand embankment in a circular format, jutting into the Atlantic Ocean. Maasvlakte 2 is scheduled to be completed in 2013.
The main economic thrust of the port of Rotterdam is petrochemical and oil companies. Standard cargo boats with consumer goods represent a large portion of incoming tonnage as well. The port has very large openings, or quays, for cargo ships. It has the second-highest amount of available port spaces in the world. This feature is very important, as it allows the largest cargo ships in the world to dock here. Other specialties include robotic ship navigation and cargo removal.
The statistics for port throughput are astounding. The cargo in 2010 was 430 million tons in a 20 by 40 square mile area. 34,000 sea-going vessels and 100,000 inland vessels arrive per year. The overall throughput has decreased yearly since the global economic recession, but 2010 posted increased tonnage. The amount of ships has also decreased due to logistic improvements.
The Port of Rotterdam is co-owned by the Port Authority and the Dutch government. As of May 2011, the Chief Operating Officer is Andre Toet. The mailing address for the port authority is Wilhelminakade 947, 3072 AP Rotterdam, Netherlands. Phone number: 010 2521497.