No Valet Parking at Rotterdam

Because the Port of Rotterdam is one of the largest ports in the world, Rotterdam’s pilots are used to handling all kinds of vessels. For them, even bringing in world’s largest bulk carrier — the 1,122-foot-long Berge Stahl loaded with 365,000 tons (!) of iron ore, giving the vessel a draft of 23 meters (75.5 feet) — is a piece of cake.

Despite their broad experience, for Rotterdam pilots the Eurodam is a vessel in the extra-ordinary class. The pilots fought for the job of bringing in this brand new ship. It’s a special, high-profile job, and not just because the ship sails all the way in to the city center.

And the winner is … José van Rijsewijk. This lucky guy recently was told that he can make the beautiful trip. Was his name drawn out of a bowl or is there a reason that José got the job?

Pilot José van Rijsewijk

“I know the captain of the Eurodam, Jeroen van Donselaar, very well,’’ José explained. “That I’ve told my boss. Besides, there’s a limited number of pilots with the right qualifications for this kind of ship.’’

José met Jeroen long ago at the Maritime Institute De Ruyter in Flushing. Later, their roads crossed when they both attended pilot training.

“After Jeroen quit the pilot training we’ve met several times in Flushing,” said José. “In the last couple of years the contact was a bit less, unfortunately.’’

José did not practice bringing in Eurodam, specifically, on a simulator.

“We practice on a simulator with vessels of similar length, but with more draft and less maneuverability,” said José. “We then simulate heavy fog and marginal circumstances, especially concerning the current.’’

But José, be honest, bringing in the Eurodam is not that difficult, is it? Pilot service is just a kind of valet parking, after all …

“Ho, ho,’’ José replied. “The Port of Rotterdam is a very busy port and the Eurodam is not just an ordinary ship. When I meet new pilots who’ve sailed as captains for many years, we always agree that controlling all tasks of a pilot isn’t that easy at all.

“There are many aspects we have to look at. For instance, the current, the speed of the ship, other ships en route, the tide and the number of tugs you need,” said José. “And at the same moment you have to communicate with vessel traffic management and the captains of tugs, while the captain of your ship and his officers are asking you where to buy presents.’’

I asked José what will be the most difficult part of the job.

“The challenge of this job is that many, many people will be watching you,” he said. “Besides that, the Eurodam is a huge vessel and it is very sensitive to wind. The most difficult part of the journey is swinging the ship around on the river Nieuwe Maas close to the Waalhaven docks, just a mile or so before the cruise terminal. That will be difficult because of the current. At a certain moment, when the ship is right across the river, you almost close off the whole river. It’s very important to choose the right starting point for this maneuver.’’