Harbor coordination and calamity centre

The Harbor Coordination Centre for the Port of Rotterdam is located in a modern central control room in the World Port Centre. In this centre the employees have control over the harbor using the most modern technologies e.g. a large video-wall where all ship movements are “Real Time” visible. The complete design of the control room is developed by vhp ergonomics. We made plans for the organization of work. the tasks of every employee. the design of workstations. the software that is used and the environmental factors (noise. climate and lightening). The project is carried out. in cooperation with Capgemini and Norman Foster and Partners. We supported the Port Authoroty from the first initiative up until the complete realization of the centre. A specific part of the project was the use of the centre for control of calamities. when all emergency services (police. fire fighters. ambulance. Port of Rotterdam and the environmental service) will cooperate together. The new centre was put into use in 2001. After half a year the total project was evaluated. The conclusions were:

• The users are very positive.
• The process has become more efficient. especially because of the better information resources the employees have control of.