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CategoriesCategoriesEnglishGENERALPublic waste company rejects 3M's plan to clean up PFAS-contaminated soil26 July 2024
The Public Waste Agency of Flanders (OVAM) has declared 3M's soil remediation project (BSP) "non-compliant"
The chemical company had a soil remediation expert draw up a plan to clean up PFAS-contaminated soil in the municipalities of Beveren and Zwijndrecht
The BSP is an action plan for the remediation of land around the 3M plant in Zwijndrecht that has been contaminated with the dangerous chemicals PFAS
The plan was submitted by soil remediation expert ERM on behalf of 3M Belgium
it involves the remediation of residential and recreational areas in the current municipalities of Beveren and Zwijndrecht in the vicinity of the 3M site
A BSP for the so-called Zone 1A in Zwijndrecht
The actual remediation work there is scheduled to start in 2025
after the construction of a temporary bridge over the E34 motorway
3M must prepare a new BSP for the much larger residential and recreational area in Beveren and Zwijndrecht
The company submitted the plan at the end of April
followed by a public enquiry and comments from various bodies
The plan was to excavate the contaminated layer of soil
the Health Department disagrees with 3M's distinction between recreational areas and residential gardens
"Children play outside in both areas and the BSP only proposes an active approach in the recreational areas," they say
That is why the plan has now been declared "non-compliant" by OVAM
OVAM has decided to declare the phased BSP non-compliant," the public waste management authority said
3M must now submit a new BSP and go through all the steps again
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO DAVID PINTENS
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The results of blood samples taken from almost 9,000 people that live within a 5km radius of the 3M chemical plant at Zwijndrecht
just outside Antwerp show that half of them have excess levels of PFAS in their blood
The results of the study were presented by the Flemish Care and Health Agency on Tuesday
One in two of adults tested was found to have elevated concentrations of PFAS in their blood
The most prevalent form of PFAS found in local people’s blood were PFOS
Of the children test one in five were found to have higher than normal PFAS concentrations in their blood
Those that live closer to the 3M plant have on average more PFAS in their blood than those who live further away
People with high PFAS levels in their blood are more likely to suffer from thyroid or liver problems
Although the Flemish Care and Health Agency considers the PFAS levels to be too high and is concerned
it does not wish to dramatise the situation
the European standards for PFAS are very strict
the scientists say that further research is necessary
the measures taken and recommendations made remain: Don't eat eggs from chickens reared in the area
wash your hands and don't let children play on uncovered soil
Perfluoro octane sulfonic acid (anion perfluoro octane sulfonate or PFOS for short) is a chemical compound from the perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl compounds group (PFAS)
The product was mainly used to impregnate materials such as textiles
for the impregnation of cooking utensils (e.g
in cosmetic products and in hydraulic fluids for the aerospace industry
the European Parliament decided to restrict the use of PFOS
the Stockholm Convention decided to include PFOS in the Convention on Restricted Substances
The biggest problem with this PFOS is the fact that it does not degrade naturally
This applies to all PFAS substances which is why they are often referred to as “forever chemicals”
There are around 6,000 different forms and compounds of PFAS
Police made an unusual discovery during a drug investigation this week when they found four kilograms of MDMA molded to look like a sink. The case led to the arrests of a 35-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman for possession of ecstasy pills, MDMA, and a firearm in Zwijndrecht on Thursday, according to a police statement
Officers working as part of a specialized national police unit spotted a car leaving a home that morning in Zwijndrecht
a Zuid-Holland city just west of Dordrecht and south of Rotterdam
They pulled the car over as part of a traffic stop
and quickly found six kilograms of amphetamines
This led to the arrest of the 35-year-old man from Nijmegen
The officers returned back to their initial stakeout position
and spotted a woman leaving the same home while carrying a box
Police said she placed this next to a garbage bin
The woman had probably been warned after the man from Nijmegen was arrested," police said in the statement
"In another box that was next to the dumpster was a 'sink' made of almost 4 kilograms of MDMA
The 33-year-old woman was immediately arrested and locked up for questioning," police said
Both suspects were expected to be interrogated on Friday
The chemical titan is weighing whether to temporarily pause or permanently end the manufacturing of affected products ahead of a planned phase-out by 2025
Although non-PFAS processes remain operational at the facility
the company said in its securities filing the PFAS pause could have a large impact — as the firm’s customers rely on the Zwijndrecht plant for supplies or quality
and they may not be available at nearby 3M facilities
the development at the Zwijndrecht plant could also affect "these businesses' ability to fulfill supply obligations to their customers," creating a supply chain ripple effect
Last month, environmental regulators in Belgium found increased PFAS emissions in May and July around 3M's Zwijndrecht plant
the agency had planned to conduct further investigation at the site and urged 3M to take additional measures by coming up with a dust mitigation plan
The Zwijndrecht facility produces adhesives for industrial and consumer use
and fluids for the production of semiconductors and refrigerants for the electronics industry
This is not the first time the Zwijndrecht plant has paused production. In 2021, the Flemish environmental agency ordered the chemical giant to idle some of its processes at the plant
The company was able to restart production in July 2022 as well as enter into an agreement with the Flemish government to invest over 571 million euros as well as carry out previously agreed-upon PFAS-related remedial actions.
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A 51-year-old woman with seriously injuries was found on the driveway of a house in Zwijndrecht (Antwerp Province) early this morning
The woman soon succumbed to her injuries that had been inflicted by force
The woman had suffered a particularly violent death
An investigating judge is now looking into the murder
local police received an emergency call about a woman with life-threatening injuries lying on the driveway of a house on the Jacomo Antonio Carennalaan in Zwijndrecht," says Kristof Aerts of the Antwerp public prosecutor's office
"The police immediately attended the scene
The injuries were so serious that the woman died at the scene
A police doctor and forensic technicians are at the site
An investigating judge is looking into the murder
The woman had a serious head wound."
She has never reported being the victim of stalking in the past
"The police were alerted by local residents who had heard shouting and screaming." Local residents say they saw a person with a hood running away
but the public prosecutor's office cannot yet confirm this
"We cannot yet say anything about a possible suspect
It is still too early for that," the public prosecutor's office says
"This is a fairly quiet residential area
You don't usually see all that many people on the streets here
unless people are walking their dog," says a local resident
"I am a member of the local neighborhood network
you don't expect that in this neighborhood."
Another local resident hopes that the police will soon find a perpetrator
and I now don't feel that safe."
Residents of the Zwijndrecht postal district 2070 are also currently being asked to leave their garbage bins where they are
Investigators may be looking for a murder weapon
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Residents of a small town in Belgium are experiencing a living nightmare
as they deal with the knowledge that the land around them is contaminated with so-called "forever chemicals"
otherwise known as Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs)
situated in a Flemish district near the city of Antwerp
is one of Europe's main hot spots for areas contaminated with PFAS chemicals - notorious for their indestructible nature and extremely slow degradation rates
Local inhabitants say that the multinational company 3M is responsible for the contamination
given that they have a chemical plant in the area that processes PFASs
The area's residents have been advised to stop eating the fruit
"We are asked not to work with our bare hands in the soil," Deleu said in an interview
[for] grandchildren [to] play in the grass
Be careful!' In the end we can't do anything else."
but does not want to sacrifice his 300 fruit trees and three vegetable gardens
can lead to an increased risk of cancer and thyroid disease and can also lead to a reduced immune response to vaccines in children
Deleu even speaks of some residents discussing suicide
"Other people who have a beautiful garden say: 'Listen
There are people who have sometimes used the word 'suicide'
But there are people who are really scared."
automotive and electronics industries for non-stick coatings on stoves
described to Euronews how bad the situation really is
"The site of 3M is indeed the biggest polluter - I think even in Europe
even worldwide has the most concentration," Penen said
"The concentrations here are never seen ever again
It's the same like the concentrations in the blood of the people in Zwijndrecht - it's also the highest that scientists have ever seen in a human being."
3M said that it will "work to discontinue the use of PFAS across its product portfolio by the end of 2025"
adding that it "does not change 3M’s long-standing position that the company has and continues to act responsibly"
The American group reached an agreement last year with the Flemish government to invest €571 million in the area, including €250 million to identify priority remedial actions.
Just last month, the European Chemical Agency, the EU body responsible for managing such substances, laid out proposals that would effectively ban the use and production of around 10,000 PFAS chemicals.
CategoriesCategoriesEnglishECONOMYChemical giant 3M accelerates PFAS phase-out in Zwijndrecht11 January 2024
Chemical company 3M Belgium will accelerate the phase-out of PFAS-related production processes at its Zwijndrecht site
The company informed Flemish Environment minister Zuhal Demir (N-VA) of this decision in a letter
The chemical company estimates that PFAS activities in Zwijndrecht will be completely phased out by mid-2024
The letter states: "A detailed action plan for this was submitted on 30 November 2023"
The reason for 3M bringing forward the phase-out is not disclosed
The decision comes after Demir ordered the suspension of production at 3M's Zwijndrecht plant in September due to PFAS leaks
the company has been in talks with various government agencies about the closure
which is now earlier than the originally proposed deadline of the end of 2025
3M also says additional measures will be taken to reduce the environmental impact of the remaining PFAS production
"Finished products will leave the site as soon as possible
and waste will be disposed of in accordance with applicable regulations." In addition
the company promises to focus on cleaning up its own site and the areas designated for waste disposal by the Flemish waste management company OVAM
PFAS accounted for approximately 70 per cent of production in Zwijndrecht
The closure will result in the loss of 98 jobs
which is less than the 200 jobs initially planned
the American chemical conglomerate announced the global layoff of about 2,500 people as part of the phase-out of PFAS production
The layoffs in Zwijndrecht are taking place in waves and are being planned in cooperation with the trade unions
"About 10 people have already been dismissed," says the Christian trade union ACV
"But the dismantling and emptying of the facilities has not yet taken place
PFAS are found in everything from frying pans to firefighting foams
These man-made chemicals are used to make products water
which means they are difficult to biodegrade and can disrupt the endocrine and immune systems when they enter the bloodstream
especially the Oosterweel construction site
#FlandersNewsService | © ANP / Hollandse Hoogte / Peter Hilz
A man that killed his ex-wife on the driveway on her home in Zwijndrecht (Antwerp Province) has been remanded in custody for a further month. The decision that the man, who has admitted to killing his former wife, should remain in custody was taken by magistrates at a hearing in Antwerp on Tuesday morning.
The man was formally arrested by the examining magistrate that is leading the investigation into the murder of the 51-year-old mother of 3 Marijke Meiresonne last week. He has already admitted to the killing of his former wife. VRT News has learned from a reliable source that a murder weapon has been found.
Marijke Meiresonne and her former husband had been involved in a long drawn-out messy divorce for many years.
CategoriesCategoriesEnglishGENERAL, CLIMATE137,000 tonnes of soil to be replaced in remediation project surrounding 3M site 14 May 2024
A remediation project in the wider area around the 3M chemical company site in the province of Antwerp requires the excavation and replacement of some 137,000 tonnes of contaminated soil
This was announced by the Public Waste Agency of Flanders (OVAM) on Tuesday
OVAM said it had received the plan for a phased soil remediation project for the residential and recreational areas in Zwijndrecht and Beveren from 3M Belgium
3M can start the remediation," said OVAM spokesman Jan Verheyen
The environmental clean-up project envisages a "living layer remediation"
in which a top layer of up to 70 centimetres of contaminated soil will be excavated and replaced with new soil
This will eliminate exposure to PFAS contamination in the solid part of the soil
An investigation into the soil showed that PFAS exposure is mainly through the consumption of eggs from free-range chickens or produce from home gardens
While the detoxed area will be restored as a vegetable garden
"Analyses of eggs show that even in zones with low concentrations of PFOS in the soil
the usage advice will therefore continue to be not to consume home-grown eggs," the OVAM said
the top layer will be excavated to a depth of 30 centimetres and replaced with clean soil
There are approximately 3000 plots affected by the project
and the OVAM will inform its owners via letter
3M will organise an information session in Zwijndrecht to explain the project to local residents
the public enquiry by the Zwijndrecht and Beveren municipalities will start
during which all interested parties - local residents
the municipalities themselves and the relevant authorities - can submit comments or objections
The duration of the clean-up for the whole area is estimated at three to four years
it is difficult to estimate when the clean-up can effectively start
"We cannot anticipate the appeal process
Everything depends on what is added during the investigation." The OVAM will take a decision at the end of July
a remediation project was drawn up for the zone with the highest concentrations in the immediate vicinity of 3M
a bridge must first be built for the supply and export of soil
The former husband of a 51-year-old woman found dying on her drive in Zwijndrecht (Antwerp Province) yesterday has confessed. The woman met a violent death, her head having been beaten with a hard object.
The woman’s ex-husband was detained yesterday, and his home was searched and sealed. For several years the couple had been involved in difficult divorce proceedings.
Neighbours have now placed flowers outside the woman’s home. She was the mother of three children.
Refuse collection in the area remains disrupted. Police have been searching bins and refuse trucks for a possible murder weapon.
CategoriesCategoriesEnglishGENERALLargest PFAS blood test in Europe launched in Zwijndrecht22 May 2023
Europe's largest PFAS blood test was launched in Zwijndrecht
9,000 people have registered for the analysis
The tests are being conducted in the aftermath of widespread pollution caused by chemicals company 3M in the area
are taking place in the vicinity of 3M's site in Zwijndrecht
Some 75,000 people were invited to have blood taken
"We will hand over personal results to people within two weeks," says Tibo Demoor of Eurofins
big conclusions until at least a year from now."
it is certain that high PFAS levels will be found in residents' blood samples
but more research is needed to find out "what the true health consequences are"
The 9,000 people being tested come from all age groups
with the youngest participant one and the oldest 100
The number should be large enough to draw accurate scientific conclusions
The Flemish government commissioned the PFAS study for everyone living within 5 km of 3M in Zwijndrecht
The study is for all residents of all age groups and is primarily to give participants insight into their exposure to PFAS
the area was rocked by an environmental scandal when
contamination was discovered with large amounts of the toxic substance PFOS in a 15 km radius around Zwijndrecht
PFAS is the umbrella term for thousands of "forever chemicals"
practically undegradable synthetic substances that include PFOS
#FlandersNewsService © BELGA PHOTO JONAS ROOSENS
The deal ends an ongoing dispute between the two sides, although 3M remains responsible for any damages to human health that may arise from the contamination in the future, the Flemish environment minister Zuhal Demir said.
PFASs – or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – are commonly referred to as “forever chemicals”because they are extremely persistent in the environment. According to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), certain PFASs are toxic for reproduction, several may be carcinogenic and some are suspected of interfering with the human endocrine system.
But, Geert Lenssens, a partner at Brussels-based SQ Law, told Bloomberg that the agreement will not stop civil claims against 3M from going ahead. Lenssens, who is representing a local family with high PFAS levels in their blood, said the case “could usher in hundreds of additional lawsuits for compensation.”
“We are worried that civilians were not involved in the negotiations. There are all kinds of personal, material and health damages now and in the future that are clearly not included,” he said, adding that the agreement “is not the end of it. It’s a start.”
In the US, 3M paid $99 million last October to resolve PFAS lawsuits related to its facility in Decatur, Alabama. It also agreed a settlement worth $850 million in February 2018 with the state of Minnesota to address PFAS contamination of drinking water and natural resources in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
3M said it stopped producing two types of PFAS – perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) — in 2002. The company announced in September 2019 a series of initiatives and actions on remediation measures and further scientific research on PFASs.
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CategoriesCategoriesEnglishGENERAL3M production process shut down after illegal PFAS emissions23 September 2023
Flemish authorities have shut down part of production at chemical company 3M's plant in Zwijndrecht after detecting illegal emissions of PFAS synthetic chemicals
The plant had to shut down all PFAS-emitting production processes in 2021 after it was found to have caused widespread contamination with the "forever chemical" PFOS
Production was later restarted because experts said PFAS emissions were negligible
Tests this week showed that was not the case
partly due to leaks in the process equipment
Flemish authorities shut down the process because exceeding the test levels is prohibited
As a precautionary measure and pending re-analysis of the other PFAS-related production processes
all PFAS processes at the site have been shut down
The impact of the emissions is being thoroughly investigated
I have also ordered an investigation into how long 3M knew about this without informing the government," said Flemish Environment minister Zuhal Demir (N-VA
we will not fail to prosecute the company for violating its environmental duty," she said
any legal step is negotiable after these facts
including cancelling its environmental permit
All options will be considered in the coming weeks."
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND
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The 417-foot (127-meter) Koru left a shipyard in the Netherlands last week and anchored Wednesday off the coast of Spain near Mallorca, where it’s undergoing tests.
CategoriesCategoriesEnglishGENERALFlanders places Shamrock Technologies under increased surveillance over PFAS emissions15 February 2024
Flanders has placed Shamrock Technologies under increased surveillance after the company's site in Tongeren was found to be emitting PFAS early last year
Shamrock Technologies develops speciality natural and synthetic wax additives
The company operates on three continents and sells to more than 100 countries
The Flemish Environmental Inspectorate visited the site in Tongeren for the first time in 2022 to carry out air emission measurements
The measurements showed the presence of several PFAS substances
or virtually non-biodegradable synthetic substances
Flanders was rocked by an environmental scandal when
during construction work on the Antwerp ring road
large amounts of PFAS contamination were discovered around Zwijndrecht caused by a plant belonging to the chemical company 3M
The activity causing PFAS emissions at the Shamrock Technologies site in Tongeren was stopped in January last year and transferred to the US
but the investigation into the effects of the emissions is still ongoing
The US Environmental Protection Agency has been informed of Flanders' findings
Shamrock Technologies is being inspected by the Environmental Inspectorate to check for other possible sources of PFAS
The public waste agency OVAM has also been asked to check whether the emissions have caused soil contamination
To ensure maximum protection of the health of local residents and workers at the plant
the Flemish Public Health Service has been asked to assess whether any measures are needed
#FlandersNewsService | A blood sample taken during a press event to mark the start of blood testing for PFAS among residents living near 3M's Zwijndrecht plant © BELGA PHOTO JONAS ROOSENS
Zwijndrecht facility victim to ‘cost rises and increased competition from low-cost countries’
The Netherlands – Arlanxeo has provided an update about the status of its butyl rubber production plant in Zwijndrecht
which is being shut down due to oversupply in the market
will lead to a loss of 278 positions and production has already ceased at the site
The site has been negatively impacted by “a substantial increase in the supply of butyl rubber from low-cost countries”
the plant was only operational from February to May this year
the oversupply situation was compounded by a sharp increase in the costs of raw materials and energy
Chen explained in a statement provided 19 Sept to ERJ
“We recognise the impact a closure at Zwijndrecht may have on our employees
and we regret the need to undertake these steps,” added the CEO
is now working to find alternative employment for all impacted employees
including via engagement with external outplacement agencies
we will provide impacted employees with a social plan which reflects their valued contribution to the company,” concluded Chen
Saudi Aramco-owned Arlanxeo’s Zwijndrecht site has a capacity to produce 150 kilotonnes per annum of butyl rubber
Arlanxeo also operate butyl rubber production facilities in Sarnia
with listed capacities of 150ktpa and 100ktpa respectively
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According to the police, the suspect is 1.70 meters tall, has fair skin and short black hair. At the time of the shooting, V. was wearing a dark jacket with a parka model, underneath a garment with a hood. V. is also known by his nickname "Lucky."
The police called people on Sunday not to approach the man but to call 112 immediately. A spokesperson for the Public Prosecution Service said that a manhunt is underway, and called V. life-threatening. "We are doing everything we can to locate and arrest him," said the spokesperson.
The mayor of Zwijndrecht, Hein van der Loo, said that the shooting in the shopping center on Saturday had a great impact on the visitors who were there. "A fatal shooting in broad daylight, on a busy Saturday afternoon in the shopping center of Walburg with many customers. Many people witnessed the incident as bystanders," the mayor informed. Witnesses can contact Victim Support, which was also on the scene at the mall.
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2023 Police at the scene of the shooting
Photo: Jeffrey Groeneweg ANPPolice at the scene of the shooting
Photo: Jeffrey Groeneweg ANPPolice are still hunting the man who shot dead a woman in a car park at a shopping centre in Zwijndrecht on Saturday
Ninh Nghia Vuong, who fled to the Netherlands in the 1970s from Vietnam, is highly dangerous and should not be approached, police said.
He had eluded police efforts to capture him for years, earning the nickname Lucky in the process, but was jailed in 2017 for his role in an armed robbery in Zoetermeer.
Vuong shot dead the 66-year-old woman from Dordrecht early on Saturday afternoon. Her 38-year-old daughter, said to be Vuong’s former partner, was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Sources told the AD that Vuong had made repeated threats against the younger woman after their relationship ended.
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CategoriesCategoriesEnglishGENERAL, SOCIETYBeveren Waas chosen as new name for merged municipalities15 February 2024
From 2025
Beveren Waas will be the largest municipality in Flanders
The merged municipality announced the new name on Thursday morning
Kruibeke and Zwijndrecht will house nearly 87,000 people in an area of 200 square kilometres
The merger was chosen in an online poll of residents of the three merged municipalities
with 13,627 choosing Beveren Waas and 6,892 choosing Scheldewaas
If the name is approved by the municipal councils involved
and Beveren Waas will become the largest municipality in Flanders
and the number of inhabitants is only exceeded by cities
Beveren and Zwijndrecht has caused controversy in the last year
80 per cent of voters in Zwijndrecht rejected the merger
but Zwijndrecht's municipal council gave the go-ahead for talks in October
which is currently part of Antwerp province
will be integrated into the province of East Flanders as part of the merger
This will affect issues such as provincial taxes for families and businesses
which are lower in East Flanders than in Antwerp
#FlandersNewsService | Beveren © CTK PHOTO / KUPEC PETR
A downturn in activity on the Dutch continental shelf is making its mark on the Dutch fabrication industry
Following the closure of the De Schelde Offshore yard last year
Mercon and Volker Stevin are left as major players
And the greater part of their workload is coming from abroad
Denmark's Maersk Olie og Gas is HFG's most important client today
The topsides for the Harald West A platform were completed at the Grootint yard in Zwijndrecht earlier this summer
fabricated at Heerema Havenbedrijf in Vlissingen
These units contain some 4,500 tons of steel each
A third major project for Maersk is the construction of the 8,000 ton Dan FF module and bridge which are due to be delivered next July
These are EPC contracts except for the jacket
HFG's Grootint yard delivered two modules for the Elf Congo's Nkossa oil and gas development late last year
The M5 oil treatment and M6 gas/LPG treatment modules
were transported by barge to the Mediterranean for assembly and further transport to West Africa
A few Dutch sector awards have been issued lately
Elf Petroland gave Heerema Havenbedrijf the EPIC contract for a 600t compression module for its K6-C platform
which takes in gas from a number of satellites in the block
has begun to decline having reached a peak close to 5mcm/d in 1994
HFG also received a letter of intent for construction of the K14-FE wellhead platform jacket from operator NAM in June
it emerged that HFG is considering closing the Penn & Bauduin yard in Dordrecht: this facility has
performed no offshore sector work for several years
HSM delivered the 110-metre long stinger for Allseas' new large diameter pipelay vessel Solitaire in June
The fabrication was performed at HSM's Schiedam yard and delivered to Swan Hunter in Newcastle for installation on the vessel's stern
The stinger will enable Allseas to use the S-lay method for pipelaying in deep water
Earlier this year HSM was awarded the contract for the construction of the L9-FF-1 jacket and piles which will consume a total of 700 tonnes of steel
A CALM/PLEM mooring system for an FPSO built by Bluewater Engineering will also be delivered by HSM in October
As a subcontractor to the Volker Stevin Offshore/Hollandia joint venture
HSM received an order for the construction of three decks for Clyde's P2/P6 jack-up production platforms
The first of these three platforms will be assembled at the RDM yard in Rotterdam in September
The other two will follow during the last quarter of 1996 and the first quarter of 1997
Each of the platforms will contain some 2,300t of steel
Work is also being performed at the Hollandia steel construction plant in Krimpen a/d IJssel and by CKT Containertechniek in Rotterdam
which fabricates accommodation and other modules
The complete power packages for all three units are being delivered on a turnkey basis by DBR of Hardinxveld
Mercon Steel Structures was awarded the EPIC contract for Elf Petroland's K5-EN/C platform
the fourth and probably last installation to be placed in the K5 block
The deck will contain around 600t of steel
Amongst the more specialised Dutch construction companies
steel fabricator Sif Holland is building the piles for the UK's Britannia and Armada projects
also bid for Amerada Hess' Glas Dowr tanker-FPSO conversion
However it is planning a renewed push in this market
an alliance of three Dutch firms opened a demolition yard for offshore platforms in Rotterdam harbour this June
They bought the three Esmond/Gordon platforms from BHP which were removed from the field by Heeremac and then delivered for scrapping in Rotterdam
Partners in the alliance are Curef Metal Processing
crane barge owner Harpo International and waste processing plant Afvalverwerking Rijnmond (AVR)
A temporary environmental licence was issued by the local authorities for the work on the three platforms
A spokesman for BHP declared that "Esmond/Gordon produced clean
dry gas and therefore the structures are seen as a benign environment
The risers were flushed with seawater and cut off at the seabed." On delivery onshore for disposal
the risers were still attached to the structures
The offshore demolition yard is the first in The Netherlands dedicated to this type of work
This group is looking for a suitable site for a break-up yard in the IJmuiden or Den Helder area
Italian offshore industry player Rosetti Marino will not be proceeding with the previously proposed acquisition of the Dutch Heerema Fabrication Group’s Zwijndrecht yard in the Netherlands
The two companies in November signed a letter of intent for a potential sale of the HFG activities at the yard in Zwijndrecht to Rosetti Marino
and Heerema will close the yard and lay off workers
after careful consideration of the risks and opportunities
has concluded that the Zwijndrecht yard acquisition did not meet its requirements due to adverse market conditions and the uncertainty for future prospects for the Zwijndrecht yard
Rosetti Marino CEO Oscar Guerra said: “Rosetti Marino regrets that our interest in the proposed sale could not happen due to external factors beyond our control”
Heerema further said that the management of HFG meanwhile has informed staff at the Zwijndrecht yard about the intended yard closure and will request advice from Works Council of HFG Nederland
“HFG is committed to support the eighty employees who are being made redundant as a result of this closure
CEO Koos-Jan van Brouwershaven: “We will continue to provide every support we can offer in this very difficult period.”
As reported in November, Heerema Fabrication Group announced the planned sale of its activities at the locations in Zwijndrecht (The Netherlands) and Hartlepool (United Kingdom)
The intended restructuring will see the closure of HFG’s head office in The Netherlands
It is anticipated that 60 jobs at the company’s headquarters will be phased out
The company has said it has been struggling for some time with insufficient project volume and marginal profitability
the risks associated with building topsides are high and clients are not prepared to pay for this risk
will remain focused on the construction of jackets for the offshore industry
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The performance of new and existing jack-ups
the topside structure of TenneT’s HelWin beta high voltage converter station left Heerema Fabrication Group’s (HFG’s) yard in Zwijndrecht
This 10,200 ton structure will be transported to the Helgoland area in the German North Sea where it will be lifted atop an already installed jacket in August
TenneT notes this structure will provide the 690 MW HVDC transmission link between the offshore wind farm Amrumbank West to the German grid
ultimately supplying enough power for 700,000 homes
HFG started the construction of the 10,200-tonne HVDC topside in October 2012
after winning the contract from Siemens in June that year for the Engineering
Construction and Installation (EPCI) of the HelWin beta platform
The 4,500-tonne jacket for the project was constructed at HFG’s yard in Vlissingen
and installed by HMC’s crane vessel Thialf in April 2014
The HelWin bèta topside measures 98 meters in length
“This EPCI project stands out because of its complexity and size
We managed and built both the jacket and topside in a relatively short period of 20 months
a significant performance and quite unique for wind energy projects
The project’s complexity is due to the fact that a closed structure will be installed offshore which will have a controlled and acclimatized environment on the inside.”
This facility is scheduled to come online in 2015
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Article updated to remove suspect's surname after his arrest
The police are still looking for Minh Nghia V., who shot his 38-year-old ex and her 66-year-old mother at Walburg mall in Zwijndrecht on January 21
Investigators believe the 49-year-old man may be hiding somewhere around Rotterdam and is getting help
The 66-year-old woman died at the scene of the shooting. Her daughter, Anneke, is still in hospital with severe injuries but is recovering
The authorities offered a 30,000 euros reward for information that leads to V.’s arrest
The police urged anyone with information - possibly someone who helped V
and has a small but visible scar near his left eyebrow
The police again warned that the man is unpredictable and can be violent
A hacker has broken into the server of the local police service in Zwijndrecht (Antwerp Province)
The commercial television channel VTM and the daily ‘Het Laatste Nieuws’ report that the hacker has put data on thousands of car number plates
speeding fines and even crime report files online for all to see
The Antwerp Judicial Authorities have confirmed this in a statement given to VRT News and say that an investigation is under way
This is reportedly one of the biggest data leaks at a public service anywhere in Belgium
The hacking of the Zwijndrecht police computer took place in September
After having stolen the information from the computer the hacker shared it on the internet
A Dutch technology journalist Daniël Verlaan that works for the news service of the Dutch commercial broadcaster RTL Nieuws was the first journalist to find the leaked data online
He contacted his colleague at the Flemish commercial broadcaster VTM and the daily ‘Het Laatste Nieuws’
VTM and ‘Het Laatste Nieuws’ say that the hacker was able to gain access to all the data kept by the Zwijndrecht Local Police service from 2006 until September 2022
The Chief Commissioner of the Zwijndrecht Local Police Service Marc Snels told VRT News that “Just to be clear
this information that was taken from our administrative network database
It is not the case that all our data has been leaked
The network mainly contains personal information about our staff such as staff lists
"But it is indeed also the case that some sensitive information was on that network
although we always try to only put it onto the professional network”
Mr Snels went on to say that “This is a case of human error
and this is how crime reports and fine notices
but also photographs of child abuse have been leaked
The Chief Commissioner has confirmed that the hackers demanded ransom money
Mr Snels says that he has no idea how the hackers were able to break into his police service’s servers
He added that as soon as it was known that the computer system had been hacked it was closed down and the relevant authorities were informed
Zwijndrecht Police are now contacting all those whose data has been leaked
the Netherlands-based Heerema intends to divest a significant part of its capability for the design and construction of structures for the offshore market
Heerema Fabrication Group (HFG) has been struggling for some time with insufficient project volume and what the company described as “marginal profitability.”
“the risks associated with building topsides are high and clients are not prepared to pay for this risk.”
HFG intends to dispose of its activities at Zwijndrecht in the Netherlands and Hartlepool in the UK
The intended restructuring will see the closure of HFG’s head office in the Netherlands
HFG has signed a letter of intent to sell its activities at the yard in Zwijndrecht to Italian engineering and construction company Rosetti Marino SpA
It is expected that the transfer of activity will not affect the workforce at the Zwijndrecht yard
HFG also intends to seek a buyer for its activities in Hartlepool
The activities at the HFG yard in Vlissingen
also in the Netherlands and Opole in Poland will continue as they are
HFG chief executive Koos-Jan Van Brouwershaven said “We are very much aware that the plans will have an impact on our staff at the head office in Zwijndrecht
We will be providing all the support we can offer in this very difficult period.”
The divestment follows a restructuring of HFG in November 2016 that took place against the background of a low oil price
a lack of investment in the oil and gas industry and what Heerema described as “unfavourable contractual conditions in the wind energy market.”
The restructuring was based on the expectation that the market would improve from 2019 onwards
but Mr Van Brouwershaven said he is disappointed that the reorganisation did not bring HFG the results it needed
“With the ongoing difficult market conditions there is not enough perspective for HFG to continue its activity with the current structure and head office organisation,” he said
will remain focused on constructing jackets for the offshore industry and will continue to act as shore base for its sister company Heerema Marine Contractors
A Justice of the Peace at a Magistrates Court in Antwerp has ruled that the chemical company 3M must pay provisional compensation of 2,000 euro to a family from Zwijndrecht (Antwerp Province)
The family’s home is around 1km from 3M’s Zwijndrecht plant
Abnormally high levels of PFAS were found in the blood of the two adult family members and their two children
During excavation work for the construction of Oosterweel Link PFAS contamination was found in the soil on land near to the 3M factory
The members of the family that were plaintiffs in this case took blood tests to find out how much PFAS was in their blood
The test results showed that the PFAS levels in their blood were 100 times the level deemed to be safe
High levels of PFAS were also found in the soil at the family’s vegetable garden
The family took their case to the Magistrates Courts and lodged a complaint against 3M under Article 3.101 of the Penal Code
This article refers to “excessive nuisance caused to neighbour’ and is usually used by people at their wits ends because of constantly barking dogs
noise nuisance from other sources and other forms of anti-social behaviour
While the plaintiff did not have to prove that 3M was at fault
several conditions had to be met for them to be granted compensation
they had to prove that they are indeed “neighbours” of the 3M plant
they had to prove that the nuisance they had suffered was the attributable to their neighbour
this is proved the neighbour is obliged to “redress this”
The chemical company had initially argued in the a Justice of the Peace was not competent to pass judgement on the case
3M also contested all the terms of the indictment
except for those regarding them being “neighbours” of the family
The Justice of the Peace didn’t except 3M's argument and on Monday ruled that the company was indeed a “nuisance neighbour”
In his ruling the JP said "The nuisance is excessive as the PFAS levels found in the area where claimants live are abnormally high
These high levels that are the nuisance here are attributable to 3M as it has been determined that the majority of the PFAS contamination in Antwerp Province comes from 3M"
3M was ordered to pay provisional damages of EUR 2,000 to the family as the contamination means that they can no longer fully use their property
The ruling could set an important precedent for other local residents
3M can still be appealed against the ruling
A new interactive map will allow anyone with internet access to find out which places in Flanders might have soil may that is contaminated with PFAS
In addition to the well-publicised PFAS contamination around the 3M factory in Zwijndrecht there are more than 800 other locations across Flanders
A large portion of the sites identified are fire stations or training facilities where fire-fighters have used fire-fighting foam that contains PFAS chemicals
On the map below you can see if any on the sites are near to your home
After it was revealed that the soil around the 3M factory at Zwijndrecht (Antwerp Province) is contaminated with PFOS
the Flemish Government started drafting a list of all places in our region where there might be PFOS in the soil
It shows places in Flanders where PFAS - the larger family to which PFOS belong - might be in the soil
You are able to zoom in and see what the situation is for your street or neighbourhood
The tap water in Zwijndrecht and Antwerp contains more PFAS than in the rest of Flanders
shows higher than average levels of a group of toxic so-called 'forever chemicals'
even these higher concentrations remain well below the European alert level
The Flemish Care and Health Agency (Agentschap Zorg en Gezondheid) and the Environment Agency VMM (Vlaamse Milieumaatschappij) joined forces in 2018 to have various water samples across Flanders analysed
'Egg protest action' in Zwijndrecht: "Many questions remain in PFOS case"
Drinking water suppliers around Zwijndrecht (where the recent PFOS scandal broke out) and also in the south of West Flanders scored worse than average
The European norm introduced in 2020 is talking about a maximum of 100 nanograms per litre
Both agencies underline that they only took a limited number of samples
And they also didn't check all the different types of the PFAS chemicals either
but did include two of the most harmful ones
There are about 20 types which can damage your health in elevated levels
It seems that PFAS is present in the whole of the Flemish environment (rivers
etc.) but that the levels remain below the European alert level
PFOS is one of the more harmful chemicals in the large umbrella group of PFAS
It hardly degrades in a natural environment (for that reason
they are also dubbed 'forever chemicals')
It is no longer being manufactured at present
but the 3M factory in Zwijndrecht still bears the consequences of the past