Page 34 - Navigator 19

NEW PILOT SUPPORT BUILDING IN VLISSINGEN
Functionality and sustainability combined
AS IF IT WERE A SHIP, THE DUTCH MARITIME PILOTS’ ORGANISATION (NEDERLANDS LOODSWEZEN) ‘CHRISTENED’ ITS NEW PILOT SUPPORT BUILDING IN THE PORT OF VLISSINGEN ON THE 15TH OF NOVEMBER 2019. ENTIRELY IN LINE WITH MARITIME TRADITION, A BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE WAS FIRMLY SMASHED AGAINST THE FAÇADE OF THE REMARKABLE BUILDING WHICH COMBINES FUNCTIONALITY WITH SUSTAINABILITY. ALL ENERGY-SAVING MEASURES WILL LEAD TO A ZERO NET ENERGY CONSUMPTION IN DAILY USE.
The new Pilot Support Building was christened by the mayor of Vlissingen, Bas van den Tillaar. “Vlissingen is a maritime city in heart and soul,” he said in his introductory speech. “The Dutch Maritime Pilots’ Organisation (Scheldemonden region, ed.) is part of that maritime mentality. Loodswezen is in the DNA of Vlissingen.” The
pilot vessels waiting in the Koopmanshaven are a public attraction in themselves, cited the mayor as an example. Just like the operations
of the pilots on the Western Scheldt constitute a tourist attraction
for many people on the boulevard. “Furthermore, Loodswezen is an important source of employment.” The realisation of the Pilot Support Building at the Eerste Binnenhaven harbour basin is of vital importance to the city as well. Vlissingen is in the process of redeveloping this
old port area and the new Loodswezen building is one of the first exponents of this. “A fine example that others will be sure to follow.”
LESS TRAVEL TIME, MORE REST TIME
The realisation of the Pilot Support Building is directly connected with the use of a 160-metre quay at the Eerste Binnenhaven which Loodswezen has already been leasing for many years. The spot
has proven an ideal, sheltered location for mooring the standby
pilot vessel, swath and pilot tenders in use by the Scheldemonden region. Director Willem Bentinck of supporting company Nederlands Loodswezen BV: “Five years ago, the municipality stated that in the future, leasing the quay would only be possible in combination with the purchase of the land behind the quay. An additional requirement was the construction of a representative building at the site.”
Latent plans on the part of the Dutch Maritime Pilots’ Organisation were consequently accelerated, says Bentinck. “In the past, we had to lease certain facilities from third parties, but now we quite wonderfully have them directly on the quay next to our vessels. The combination of office space, workshop, warehouse, accommodations and rest area so close to the work place means less travel time, more rest time and therefore better working conditions.”
BUNKER FROM THE SECOND WORLD WAR
The construction process was not without obstacles. The site on which the Pilot Support Building stands also features a bunker from the Second World War. The initial idea was to partially incorporate this bunker to support the new building. However, the bunker built by
the Germans in 1942 as a repository for explosives turned out to be insufficiently stable for this. In the preparation stage, extensive research into the presence of explosives in the soil of the building site was required as well.
HIGH-QUALITY APPEARANCE
The final result is quite impressive. The Pilot Support Building is equipped with all creature comforts and has a high-quality appearance. Almost invisible to the eye, but definitely just as important: the building is fully sustainable. The aim is to achieve zero net energy consumption. To this end, the building has been equipped with a
heat pump with an 80-metre deep ground pipe, 42 solar panels, LED lighting and high-level sound and heat insulation. This means no gas connection is required; the building is ready for the future.
A future in which the old bunker also has a role to play. In his design, architect Glenn de Groot has explicitly acknowledged its presence,
but Loodswezen is now looking for ideas for its concrete use. Two of the suggestions involve turning the building into respectively a bicycle shed and storage space; another idea is the placement of additional solar panels on the roof. In this way, it would also be possible to supply the pilot vessel on the quay with green electricity.
34 NAVIGATOR NL 2019 N°19