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As a result of the ever-rising number of ocean-going vessels wanting to anchor in the North Sea near to the port of Rotterdam, the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management has designated a new anchoring area.

Named Anchorage 6, the new area is just over 15 kilometres northwest of Scheveningen, located along the route to Scandinavia and the Baltic states. Anchorage 6 can accommodate about fifteen vessels.

According to the Port of Rotterdam Authority, last year there was a notable increase in the popularity of anchorages in the North Sea.

"A lot of tankers anchor here awaiting orders or just ‘on spec’. Most oil tankers remain at anchor for just a few days in the approach to the port of Rotterdam. Elsewhere in the North Sea – off the coast of Southwold (near Norwich) - tankers sometimes lay anchored for months," the Port of Rotterdam Authority said.

Anchorages

An anchorage is a recommended mooring at sea where ships can anchor. It is an area that is bounded by coordinates on a nautical chart. The approach to the port of Rotterdam extends 57 kilometres from the coast, which is where the Eurogeul begins.

The Eurogeul and the Maasgeul, which follows it, together form the approach channel in the North Sea, with a guaranteed depth of 25.4 metres at the start and 24.3 metres later on.

To the north and south of the channel, anchoring areas have been designated. A separate anchorage has already been reserved for gas tankers. Vessels are not expected to begin using the area until 2011 at the earliest.

Opposite anchorage 6 – on the other side of the route to the Baltic – anchorage 5b has also been reserved. This anchorage is currently under discussion in connection with the construction of a possible wind farm in the North Sea.