Functions
A modern seaport located at the northern tip of the province of North-Holland, with an open connection to the North Sea and the Wadden Sea via the Marsdiep.
The port area of Den Helder occupies a number of important functions, including:
Offshore port - Fishing port - Commercial port - Coastguard port
Naval port - Ferry port - Museum port - Yacht marina - Port of refuge
Special features of Den Helder:
- Open seaport accessible throughout the entire year, even in the most extreme weather conditions.
- Ideal geographical location in respect of oil and gas fields offshore.
- Favourable geographical location in respect of the North Sea fishing grounds.
- Rapid ship handling for transhipment, crew changes, bunkering, etc.
- Feedback from a modern airport.
- Favourable geographical location in respect of the heavily used shipping routes between Northern and Southern Europe, and from and to the Baltic.
- The presence of the coordination centre for coastguard operations and home port for the emergency towing vessel Waker.
- Two motorways offering easy connections to Amsterdam, Hamburg and Scandinavia.
- Excellent links with the European inland shipping network, via the North-Holland Canal and the Wadden Sea.
- Various training institutes for firefighting, helicopter underwater escape training, survival at sea, and rescue operations.
- Indoor ship shot-blasting and painting facilities.
- Fitting and dry dock facilities for offshore and fishing vessels.
- The presence of a harbour reception installation for the collection of (hazardous) waste materials from ships and offshore installations.
- A range of port and docking facilities complying with the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS).