NETHERLANDS

The Millennium Platform was set up in mid-1997 and is an Action 2000 equivalent. It works closely with the Dutch Government Y2K Project Office set up at the same time. The Dutch websites state that detailed contingency planning is in hand across the country. Contingency planning is taking place at sector and at government level and exercises are planned at local, regional and national level.

Minister van Boxtel has responsibility for Y2K. The top official in every Ministry is required to make a formal presentation of preparations in his Ministry. Audits are an integral part of the government's preparations.

A media campaign for SMEs ran until the end of February. A national public information campaign began in June. The stated goal is to inform the public about the Y2K problem, about plans up to 1st January 2000, about the status of the infrastructure and of possible effects at home. On 21st June the Dutch authorities published a Millennium newspaper which was delivered to every home in the country. The paper informed the public about the actions undertaken by government and business to deal with Year 2000 issues. The paper also assured the public that shelves would be well stocked over the millennium period.

The Dutch plan Confidential and Public hearings for all vital sectors (including utilities, telecomms, transport and food chains) over the summer. The Dutch have adopted Action 2000s Pledge 2000, adapted for their country. Websites: www.mp2000.nl and www.PMO.nl

Energy: Ministry of Economic Affairs is responsible and covers gas, oil and electricity generation and distribution.

Transport: according to the Dutch website airports, railways, traffic control and airlines all have Y2K projects.

Telecomms: according to the Dutch websites KPN, the main supplier has a detailed Y2K project.

Finance: the Ministry of Finance is responsible for the sector but the Dutch National Bank acts as industry supervisor.

Business. The latest survey results into preparations in Dutch small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) are available on the Dutch website www.mp2000.nl . The report notes slippage in projected completion dates and says: "The entire and timely completion of the SMBs can no longer be expected; a development we also see in the SMB sector in surrounding countries". And "between 10 & 20% of the SMBs will not be compliant in time and will be dependent on yet to be established business continuity plans".

However, the percentage of completed projects rose over the period of the surveys (January, March and May) rose from 62% to 70%. A sample of completion per sector as at May 1999 is as follows:

Agriculture/fisheries 74% Transport/storage 72% Retail/restaurant 70% Wholesale/distributors 69% Industry 69% Business services 66% (Government/non-profit 66%)

The port of Rotterdam (RMPM) has an active Y2K programme and has its own website at www.port.rotterdam.nl . It also publishes a regular magazine, the May edition of which contains a sizeable article on Rotterdam's Y2K programme. Salient points are as follows. The article says that the port is committed to remaining open over the millennium period and "all vessels will be free to enter the port providing they can demonstrate that the vessel has been made millennium proof". This demonstration will be by means of a completed questionnaire on which spot checks will be made. The questionnaire asks how preparations have been made, how these has been documented and whether emergency procedures have been practised. Pieter Struijs (Executive Director of Shipping and port warden) says in the article: "RMPM's critical systems (eg vessel traffic control and information processing) are ready for the changeover". The article also notes that a "millennium register" is to be designed for vessels in the inland waterways. Those who are not yet in the register at the end of 1999 "may not sail". Pieter Struijs also said "We guarantee everything to be ready for the year 2000. Not only the safety control systems and the information processing systems but also the locks, bridges, patrol boats and illuminated buoys. This will also have to apply to pilots, port tug services and cable handlers".

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), September 09, 1999