07 July 2026

Connection is the foundation for the successful completion of the cooling water pump station

The construction of the cooling water pump station has been completed. On 2 July, this was celebrated in style with the teams directly involved from G. van der Ven Aannemingsbedrijf and Porthos on the site of the new building, at the head of Rotterdam’s Maasvlakte. A fine moment to look back on the journey so far: what made this project special, what challenges arose along the way, and what are those involved most proud of? Huibert van der Ven, Director of G. van der Ven Aannemingsbedrijf, and Yke Norg, Onshore Manager at Porthos, look back on a project in which engineering, collaboration and safety were constantly intertwined.

From broad expertise to successful completion
Van der Ven operates across a broad spectrum of the construction sector: from drinking water treatment plants and pumping stations to restoration, non-residential construction and civil engineering. According to Huibert, this project brought together many disciplines that the company had already applied in the past. “It is precisely that diversity that appeals to us. We like to seek out projects where different areas of expertise come together. We’ve built a cooling water pump station before, but this project had unique features. Take, for example, the construction of a new section of the sea quay.”

Porthos selected Van der Ven as the main contractor for the cooling water pump station through an international tender. The decision was made on the basis of experience, quality and sustainability, and a competitive tender. Huibert: “We secure virtually all our projects through tenders. We were confident that we could handle this project – and that has certainly proved to be the case.” For both parties, the recent completion of the construction phase serves as confirmation: for Van der Ven, of their craftsmanship; and for Porthos, of their choice of this contractor.

A small component with a major role
Within Porthos’s CO₂ infrastructure, the cooling water pump station fulfils a supporting yet essential function. The building supplies cooling water to the compressor station, which is needed to maintain the temperature of equipment within the compression and transport process. “Although it is a relatively small link in the entire chain, it turned out to be quite challenging from a technical perspective,” explains Yke.

Various issues arose during the construction phase. For instance, the construction period of just under 2.5 years involved technical challenges, unexpected ground conditions and complex concrete works. In addition, the engineering work placed high demands on all parties involved. “Not all aspects of the Porthos project were 100 per cent in line with our previous experience,” explains Huibert van der Ven. “We hadn’t worked in the port area very often before, and the conditions there are, after all, slightly different. That’s why we deliberately sought out strong partners who could complement our capabilities. It was precisely that collaboration that drove the project forward.”

Collaborating on the basis of trust
According to both parties, the key to success lay not only in the technology, but above all in the way they worked together. Huibert: “I look back on this project with great pleasure, from the preparation stage right through to its completion. We’re used to adapting to the client’s needs. We built up a good rapport with Porthos right from the preparation phase, and that proved to be a strong foundation for the rest of the project.”
Yke recognises this immediately. “Of course, things didn’t always go entirely smoothly, or there were differences of opinion. But then we’d give each other a call, have a proper chat and work out a solution together. Building on that mutual relationship, we were then able to provide direction to our teams.” Huibert adds: “Tackling problems and finding solutions – that’s what we’re good at here at Van der Ven. And that only works if you keep the lines of communication open.”

Proud of the result and the team
Now that the building is complete, a sense of satisfaction prevails. “I’m very proud of this project and of the quality we’ve delivered,” says Huibert. Yke agrees: “Quite rightly so. The Van der Ven team has delivered on its promises and, together with the Porthos team, has produced a successful and attractive project.”
For Huibert, however, his greatest source of pride lies not only in the physical end result. “What I’m perhaps most proud of is the team that brought this project to fruition.“They have consistently kept their focus on the ultimate goal, worked hard, actively contributed ideas for solutions and, at the same time, managed to maintain a calm atmosphere on the construction site. That is remarkable, especially at a site with so many stakeholders.”

Safety as a shared responsibility
Safety was a key theme throughout the construction of the cooling water pump station. Porthos greatly appreciates the improvement in safety standards and the way in which Van der Ven’s civil engineering team managed to align civil construction activities with the safety standards of the oil and gas industry. Yke: “The construction team played a major role in this. Porthos has a strong focus on safety, and Van der Ven fully supported this. That connection we mentioned earlier was evident at all levels: both in the execution of the work and within the HSE teams.”
At a site like the Maasvlakte, safety also extends beyond our own construction site. “We also have a responsibility towards our neighbours to prevent safety risks as much as possible,” says Yke. Huibert emphasises that safety is ultimately a collective endeavour. “Safety is everyone’s achievement. It stems from attitude, culture, observations and the dialogue surrounding them. Only in this way can we continue to encourage one another to act in a safety-conscious manner.”

Involved right through to handover
As director, Huibert remained closely involved throughout the entire process. “The project manager took care of the day-to-day planning, organisation and coordination, but kept me constantly informed of developments.”
As the management meetings between Huibert and Yke regularly took place on site, engagement remained high. Site visits were invariably combined with management safety walks: a valuable opportunity to discuss safety not only around the conference table, but also on the construction site itself with all the staff involved. According to both parties, this approach has visibly contributed to the further development of the safety culture on site. Huibert concludes with a smile: “That’s how I really stayed in touch with the project. And to be honest: it’s also turned out to be a really beautiful building.”

Work in its final phase
For Van der Ven, the completion of the construction does not yet mean a final farewell to the project site. In the coming period, the construction team will be scaled down, the site huts on the Maasvlakte will be removed and the temporarily leased site will be cleared, tidied up and returned.
Over the coming months, Van der Ven will return to the site a few more times to carry out some additional work. The focus will be, amongst other things, on making a number of adjustments to the installations. This will see the project moving step by step towards the full commissioning of this important link within the Porthos infrastructure.

The photographs above were taken at a location where it is not necessary to wear personal protective equipment.