The Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands is the largest in the entire Western Hemisphere. Located less than 24 hours by road or rail from every EU capitol, it has for decades been the heartbeat of the European Union, and a cornerstone of the entire world's economy. But now, that cornerstone is in danger of collapse. With 90% of products today shipped by container, Rotterdam's container terminals are nearing capacity, threatening to become a trade bottleneck that could cripple a continent already devastated by recession.
To make sure this doesn't happen, the Port of Rotterdam has launched the Maasvlakte 2 Project — an ambitious $4 billion plan to triple the port's container capacity by 2013. But in a country with literally nowhere else to build, that means undertaking the biggest land reclamation project in history, turning 8 square miles of the stormy North Sea into Europe's new gateway to the world. And it's much more than just earth-moving. To keep the port running 24-7, they're building 3 new power plants, and to house the army of workers servicing Europe's largest construction project, they are building the biggest hotel in the Netherlands — entirely from recycled shipping containers.
To plan for the future, everything at the Maasvlakte 2 will be super-sized to accommodate the mammoth container ships of the future. Upon completion, it will be the most valuable port facility ever, providing the largest ships in the world direct connection to Europe's industrial heartland. Build it Bigger has unprecedented access to all aspects of this amazing project, as engineers literally reshape the Dutch coast, all while keeping one of the world's busiest ports up and running.
Europe's Largest Land Reclamation Project
The Port of Rotterdam is already Europe's biggest port, but the Maasvlakte 2 expansion will triple its container capacity in one bold stroke. Stretching 3 miles beyond the former coastline, Maasvlakte 2 will be as large as Midtown and Downtown Manhattan combined. To manufacture 5000 acres of new land, the port called up the same fleet of dredging ships that built Dubai's palm islands — and then more than doubled its size to 10 ships, making this the biggest hydro-engineering project ever. Since 2008, the fleet has been working around the clock, vacuuming sand from the bottom of the North Sea and rainbowing it onto the seabed to create new land. Our team will be on both the ships and the brand new islands, as crews hurry to move 13 billion cubic feet of sand, dig 10 miles of shipping channels, and create 8 miles of sea wall and sand dunes.
Biggest Boat Slips Ever
From cell phones to running shoes, 90% of the worlds products travel by shipping container for one simple reason: standardization and cost savings. To remain competitive, shipping companies are building bigger and bigger ships, like the 14,000-plus container Emma Maersk and her eight sister ships — the biggest container vessels ever built. The ships have gotten so big, that only a handful of quays at a few of the world's biggest ports can handle them. And with shipyards forging ahead with a new generation of mega-ships, Rotterdam is racing to become their number one port of call. Maasvlakte 2 is the first port facility ever designed from the ground up to handle these ships, with the deepest man made channels and longest quays ever made. Build it Bigger is there as construction of the first quay wall begins, setting the stage for the super-sized ships of tomorrow.
World's Longest Articulated Crane
As engineers perform the largest earth-moving operation on the planet, it's crucial to keep that earth from washing away. To prevent erosion, the entire perimeter of the Maasvlakte 2 will be covered with over 20,000 43-ton stone blocks. It's the equivalent of spreading the Great Pyramid of Giza across the shoreline, and because of the vast size of the stones and the choppy seas, it must be done from the edge of the newly-formed landmass. This kind of job has never been done before, and it requires a brand new crane — with the longest articulated arm in the world, capable of depositing these massive stones over 160 feet from the shore. Our cameras are on site for a major construction milestone as teams complete the assembly of "De Blockbuster," and test it out for the first time.
World's Cleanest Coal Plant
Already one of the busiest places on the planet, the Port of Rotterdam has to accommodate a near-constant flow of ships, trucks, and trains, and that pace will only increase with the new expansion. To keep Maasvlakte 2 running 24 hours a day 365 days a year, they're building a new $1.5 billion coal fired power plant on site that will guarantee continuous operation even in the event of a nationwide blackout. The plant will produce 1100MW — enough electricity to power 330,000 American homes, and the portside location will make it incredibly efficient. With a dedicated quay, coal will travel directly from a ship's hold to the generators in minutes, eliminating costly ground transport. The location also holds promise for a greener future. Engineers believe the exhausted oilfields just offshore could be used to store CO2, and they have chosen this plant for a pilot project to test their theory. If it works, they could completely erase its carbon footprint making this the cleanest coal fired plant in the world.
Holland's Biggest Hotel — Made of Containers
The Port of Rotterdam will soon be the largest construction site in Europe, which means thousands of workers descending on one of the smallest and most crowded nations on earth. To house these workers and cut down on their commute time, the port decided to build "Hotel at Work," a 2,500 room onsite complex that will become Holland's biggest hotel — and the biggest hotel in the world built entirely from shipping containers. Each guest room has the dimensions of a standard container, with an ample 320 square feet of living space, but amenities like high-speed internet and flat screen TVs belie their humble industrial construction. The Build it Bigger team is onsite to see the installation of the next batch of 'Hotel at Work' rooms — and will be among the first guests to give container living a test run.
