Port of Rotterdam introduces a new system for reserving buoys and dolphins

The port of Rotterdam introduced a new system for reserving buoys and dolphins. KING 3.0 makes it easy for agencies to book online, guaranteeing them of a berth for a specific sea-going vessel. Business manager and ‘buoy queen’ Amanda de Bruine discusses how she and her team developed the new system from scratch. ‘KING 3.0 is service-oriented, and more user-friendly for everyone involved.’

‘The port of Rotterdam has a total of 29 berths with buoys and dolphins out on the water, spread across multiple locations – from Maasvlakte to Dordrecht. They’re unique facilities: no other port offers a system like this. The buoys and dolphins provide safe and secure anchoring points for the ships. This reduces the risk of vessels losing cargo during heavy weather, for example. And they facilitate quick and efficient loading, unloading and bunkering,’ explains Amanda de Bruine. ‘Handling cargo, bunkering, making repairs and cleaning: a ship can execute all these activities out on the water, moored to a buoy or dolphin. Agencies can arrange a berth for one of these vessels on behalf of the shipping company or owner of the cargo.’