Ice threatens Dutch harbour, as skaters rejoice

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The Port of Rotterdam, also known as Europoort (Eurogate), has been an important trading center since approximately AD 1250. The history of the port reflects the evolution of the world's economic base. Originally serving the North Sea herring fleets, it rapidly grew into a major mercantile port during the Dutch colonial period. The 19th century witnessed the Industrial Revolution, and steel and coal became major commodities passing through the port. Following the development of petroleum as a primary energy resource in the early 20th century, the port expanded westward to accommodate storage facilities and large oil tankers.This westward expansion continued beyond the coastline in the 1970s, when a portion of the sea was cordoned off and drained to create the facilities visible in this astronaut photograph. Large petroleum storage tank fields and docks for supertankers occupy the center of the image. In 2004, more than 350 million tons of cargo passed through the port.The image illustrates the close proximity of the Europoort to the surrounding cities of Hoek van Holland, Oostvoorne, Brielle. Between Oostvoorne and Brielle, a mixture of fertile and fallow agricultural fields create a green and tan checkboard. The presence of the port and its seawalls interrupts southward-flowing coastal currents, leading to accumulation of sediment to the south (lower left of image). Numerous ship wakes are visible within the port complex itself and in the North Sea, in the upper part of the image.

by Staff Writers
The Hague (AFP) Dec 31, 2008
As Dutch ice-skaters made the most of the lowest December temperatures in 12 years, authorities announced Wednesday it would be deploying a ship to break up ice in the port of Rotterdam.

"For the first time since 1996, the Rotterdam Port Authority will use a patrol vessel the keep the port ice-free in the freezing weather," said a statement from the biggest port in Europe and the third biggest in the world.

A single vessel will start ice-breaking duties on Friday in an area of the harbour where ice is threatening to derail sea traffic.

"We will see if more are needed later," spokesman Tie Schellekens told AFP.

In 1996, the last time that such action was needed, boats worked night and day for three weeks, clearing a passage for barges and container ships.

Meanwhile, the cold weather was welcomed by many local people: the Dutch are famously fond of skating on the any of the dozens of natural ice rinks across the country.

"Every small town or village has an ice-skating club which start preparations in November by placing 20 centimetres of water in a ring," said Huub Snoep, spokesman for the Dutch Ice-Skating Federation (KSNB).

"This freezes to form an ice layer of eight or nine centimetres deep; that is enough for skating," he said -- warning of the dangers of attempting to skate on frozen lakes or canals.

In the town of Nieuwkoop in the centre of the country, a man in his sixties was rescued after falling through the ice while ice-skating Tuesday.

And in Vlissingen in the east, two boys aged 10 and 12 also had to be saved after falling into a canal on Tuesday.

The country arranges several ice-skating marathons, and the Dutch are hoping it will become cold enough this year to hold the renowned "Elfstedentocht" (race of 11 cities) -- a 200km endurance race on frozen canals.

The Elfstedentocht has only been held 15 times since the maiden race in 1909; the last was held on January 4, 1997.

"There are about 16,000 participants: the ice must be at least 16 centimetres (just over six inches) deep," said Snoep.

"We need a dozen freezing days with temperatures of minus eight degrees (Celcius) (18 Fahrenheit) at night and zero by day."

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Heavy snow forces cancelation of flights, trains in Japan

Tokyo (AFP) Dec 26, 2008
Heavy snow blanketed northern Japan Friday, stranding holiday travellers, as the weather agency warned of further severe winter storms and high waves over the weekend.

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