Contract
The contract for constructing the first phase includes creating 2.4 km of hard seawalls (stones and blocks), 8.4 km of soft seawalls (beaches and dunes), the first approximately 700 ha of port area, 2 km of deep sea docks (-20 m), 1 km of barge/feeder docks  (-11/-13 m), deepening of the port basins and construction of the 11 km of roads (two lanes each side plus two secondary roads) and railways (double track) necessary to provide access to Maasvlakte 2. Maintenance of the seawalls for the first five years after delivery forms part of the contract.

Design & Construct
The design & construct contract includes maintenance of the seawalls and quay structures. A design & construct contract means that a functional Programme of Requirements is put out to tender rather than a finished plan. Particular attention will be devoted when examining proposals and during execution of plans to the complex and hazardous elements like quay walls. This approach gives the contractor ample scope to include creative and innovative ideas in the final plan. PUMA has considerable freedom in deciding how to materialise its project, for example. The Port of Rotterdam Authority can confine its orchestrator’s role to its prime objective: a sustainable and safe port area, excellently reachable with minimal disturbance of the environment and shipping during construction. Optimisations of the plan will still be possible after signature of the contract. The only preconditions are that they must be compatible with the Programme of Requirements and must be made with the consent of all parties concerned.

The schedule calls for construction to get underway after summer 2008. The first sites will be ready for construction work early 2011 and the first container can pass over the quays mid-2013.