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My name is Martina.I'm 11 years old, and I livenear the port of Rotterdam.

TRANSLATED FROM DUTCH

The port of Rotterdamis the biggest and busiest portin the whole of Europe,and it is also the fourth largestport in the world.It's the gateway to Europe.Rotterdam is often calledthe Europort.

Rotterdam is right on the North Sea,and at the mouthof two important rivers,the river Rhine and the river Meuse.We always have wind here,so we use the wind for energy.The wind energyis used for extra electricity.

IN ENGLISH

Look, this is a really bigcontainer ship!

TRANSLATED FROM DUTCH

I'm very connected to the port,because both my grandfathersworked as sea captains.Both my parentswork in the shipping industry.My mother organises shipmentsto go all over the world,especially to Norway and Iceland.The shipments of coal and quartzare used for products like silicone.This is used for touch screens,make-up and solar panels.

This is EMO,the European dry bulk terminal.It's the largest in Europe.Dry bulk means things likeiron ore or coal.

TRANSLATED FROM DUTCH

Over here, we have coalfrom different countries,like Africa, Colombia, Indonesia.This is the areawhere they unload it.The grab can hold 80 tonnes.That's about 13 elephantsor 40 cars.The coal is used for energyin steel factories and power plants.It's stored here and then exportedto other countries all over Europe.The black heaps are coaland the brown heaps are iron ore.Many productsget taken down the Rhine by boat.Lots of productsalso go with really long trains.Everything is going somewhere.

THEY SPEAK IN DUTCH

My father works as a shipping agent.He makes sure all the shipshave everything they needwhen they come into harbour.My dad looks afterabout 2,000 ships.Sometimes my dad books tug boatsfor the really big ships.Tug boats pull or pushthe ships into the port.They are very strong and powerful.The big ships can carryover 14,000 containers.The containershave everything in them -food, clothes, shoes, TVs, games -anything you can think of.

IN ENGLISH

This is ECT,the European Container Terminal.

IN ENGLISH

Look! There are no drivers.

TRANSLATED FROM DUTCH

This is where the containersare offloaded from the ships.Its nickname is the ghost terminal,because all of the machineswork by themselves.Even when it's pitch dark.The idea was invented here.

SHE SPEAKS DUTCH

Sometimes it's fun to watch theships with my best friend, Manon.She's nice and she helps you outif you need help.And, well, she's justa really good friend.We chill out and watch the shipscoming in.It will overtake the otherin no time. It goes "Wheeee!"It goes really fast.

My dad also books pilotsand pilot boatsto guide the ships into the port.They know the port so wellthat the foreign sea captainsdon't have to worry abouthow to find their way in.

RADIO MESSAGE IN DUTCH

The pilots are sea captainswho have special trainingto be Rotterdam port pilots.They guide about 65,000 shipsa year.They are fit and healthybecause they have to climb upthe side of the ships.I think it's scaryand exciting at the same time,because when it's darkand you can't see anything,you still have to climb upthe side of a really big ship.They also have to do thisin thick fog or in rough seas.

Every ship is going somewherein the world,fetching or delivering.Sometimes my dad books a helicopterto bring the pilots to the ship.Helicopters are neededfor lots of different reasons,like, for example,if the weather is bad,or if the ship is really bigor far out.Sometimes my dad hires a helicopterwhen there's an accident.Luckily, that's not very often.He can't keep the ships waiting,so the pilots need to get them inquickly.Huge portsare pretty exciting places.