Published on: December 9, 2025, 1:55 PM
Rijkswaterstaat is carrying out a gate replacement at the Middensluis in IJmuiden in December 2025. The replacement is part of regular maintenance and is also necessary due to damage caused by a collision with a ship. The work is part of the Basic Maintenance Contract (BOC) North Sea Canal.
Handling and Repair
Locking is a controlled process where the operator and the captain are always in contact. If something goes wrong unexpectedly, such as a collision, the standard damage process is activated. The involved ship is not allowed to continue sailing until a damage expert has assessed the situation and the insurer has provided a guarantee. Only then can a full inventory be made and repair work be ordered.
Depending on the nature and extent of the damage, the repair sometimes consists of an initial, functional repair, followed by a later full operational repair. If the locking process can continue normally, this will be scheduled later or combined with a planned closure.
Spare Gate at the Gate Workshop
For gate replacements, we have spare gates stored at the gate workshop on the northeast side of the Noordersluis. From this location, spare parts can be deployed quickly when needed.
Maintenance Sequence
How often lock gates are replaced varies per lock. For the Kleine, Zuider, and Middensluis, a maintenance sequence of about six years applies. For the Noordersluis, this is on average every four years. In this sequence, there is always a gate available for planned maintenance or unexpected repairs.
Background: Middensluis IJmuiden
The Middensluis was completed in 1896 and measures 225 m long, 25 m wide, and 10 m deep. The lock is nowadays mainly used by inland vessels, smaller coastal vessels, tugboats, fishing vessels, and larger luxury recreational vessels.
In use, it mainly concerns ships within inland shipping classes Va to Vb and smaller sea-going vessels. This includes dry cargo ships, tankers, and container inland vessels up to about 135 m, as well as coastal vessels, fishing vessels, pilot boats, and patrol vessels up to about 120 m.
