The harbour on the island of Frisian island of Terschelling is in need of renovations. A second gangway, improved handling of baggage and bikes, a new location for the terminal and more parking are all on the agenda, and all of it has to be storm surge resistant.
According to the Leeuwarder Courant, The current ferry harbour, passenger terminal, car park and the Willem Barentzkade are underwater during unusually high tides, but those conditions are becoming increasingly common. The plans are outlined in a policy document titled “Harbour Vision”.
Ferries
Rederij Doeksen, a shipping company operating between Terschelling and the mainland, will deploy two additional ferries starting in 2019. Those passenger boats will make use of the same loading bridge as cargo ships, and the window for cargo to be offloaded will be quite small, which could in turn present problems for stocking the shops and grocery stores on the island.
Loading bridge
On top of that, the sole current loading bridge is in poor shape. Maintenance is irregular and the threat of malfunction looms large, so demand for a second bridge is high. The policy paper also includes a proposal to expand infrastructure for processing cargo elsewhere in the harbour or in the existing industrial zone. That would relieve some of the pressure, but it could threaten the protected Natura 2000 breeding and resting site, not to mention interrupting the island’s vistas.
Rising sea levels
Rising sea levels are an acute threat to the residents living on the Willem Barentzkade, which officially falls outside of the dikes and is not adequately protected by a wall that rises only 3.6 meters above sea level. Raising the wall would also come at the expense of those island views. Following elections on 21 March, the incoming municipal council will have the final say on the proposed upgrades.
