More than 25 participants from around the world — including Belgium, Canada, China, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Mauritius, Taiwan, the Netherlands, the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates — came to Delft (the Netherlands) for the 36th IADC International Seminar on Dredging and Reclamation.
The seminar was organised by the International Association of Dredging Companies in co-operation with UNESCO-IHE from 20 – 24 June 2011. Since 1993 the IADC has regularly run week-long seminars especially developed for professionals in dredging-related industries to familiarise them better with the many aspects and challenges of dredging.
Dredging experts from IADC member companies presented the lectures and complemented theory with their practical knowledge and experience. Amongst the subjects covered were the develop-ment of new ports and maintenance of existing ports; project phasing; descriptions of types of dredging equipment; costing of projects and types of dredging projects.
Events outside of the classroom were equally important and stimulating and included a visit to Maasvlakte 2. Maasvlakte 2 is the extensive expansion of the Port of Rotterdam, which is being created to update the port and will cover 1,000 hectares net of industrial sites directly situated at deep water.
Another highlight of the week was a trip to the site of dredging contractor Van Oord at Moerdijk. Enthusiastic Van Oord employees demonstrated dredging equipment in action and provided participants with a deeper insight into the intricacies of the dredging operation. In addition, mid-week a dinner was organised, where the participants, lecturers and other dredging employees mingled, networked and discussed the real world of dredging.
The next IADC seminar will be organised in Singapore, from 24 – 28 October 2011. The Seminar is aimed at decision makers and their advisors in governments, port and harbour authorities, off-shore companies and other organisations that have to execute dredging projects. The cost of the seminar will be € 3,100.- (VAT inclusive), a discount of € 250.- is applicable for registrations before September 1, 2011. The fee includes all tuition, seminar proceedings, workshops and a special participants dinner, but is exclusive of all travel costs and accommodation.
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Source: iadc-dredging, July 1, 2011.