Translation of working group reports

At the Council meeting, President Eric Van den Eede presented the document concerning the translation of working group reports that was drafted after discussion with the French and Belgian Sections and consequently discussed by the ExCom. Both the French and the Belgian Section approved the proposal. Therefore, the Council also approves the proposal and appreciates the cooperation of the French and the Belgian Sections to come to this result.


Resolution '08 - Proposals

President Van den Eede informed the Council about the ExCom's idea to focus on the increasing need for additional capacity of inland waterways, as well as on environmental concerns related to navigation. This can partially be met by the use of new technologies (e.g. RIS).

The resolution should be divided into three parts :

• PIANC in general;
• General topic - facilitating navigation;
• Technical topic - RIS.

Of course, the environmental aspects should also be involved in the resolution.

President Van den Eede also urged all members to make use of PIANC's major events to communicate to a broad audience. This way, specific problems in specific areas can be targeted and they can be brought to the attention of the local press. In particular, he mentioned the Mediterranean Days in Palermo in October 2008, where specific problems related to the Mediterranean Sea could be highlighted. This might be an incentive for Mediterranean countries (e.g. Greece, Turkey, etc.) to join PIANC.


Selection of the winner of the "De Paepe-Willems Award" (DPWA)

Chairman of this year's DPWA-jury, Manuel Marcos Rita (picture) announced that this year the award will be granted to William Glamore from Australia for his paper "A Decision Support Tool for Assessing the Impact of Boat Wake Waves on Inland Waterways". The jury report, drafted by Mr. Marcos Rita will be made available on the website of PIANC. PIANC would like to take the opportunity to congratulate William Glamore and to thank Manuel Marcos Rita, Henk Jan Verhagen, Robert Willis and Freddy Wens for their excellent job carried out as members of this year's DPWA-jury.

Mike Thorn presented a Power Point presentation about the progress of the preparations for the Mersey MMX Congress in 2010 both at the ExCom and Council meeting. The date has been set: the congress will be held from 8 until 14 May 2010. Both meetings discussed his proposals and President Eric Van den Eede proposed to present these outlines to the AGA in Beijing. It was also decided to send out a first announcement at the occasion of the Mediterranean Days in Palermo, as well as with PIANC's magazine "On Course", both in October 2008.

International activities 2011-2014

President Van den Eede informed the ExCom and the Council that the German Section has put forward its candidacy for hosting the AGA for the year 2011. Furthermore, PIANC HQ received a candidacy from the French Section to host the AGA in 2013 and the US-Section has proposed to host both the AGA and the Congress in 2014. The host cities are yet to define.

For the hosting of the AGA, as well as the PIANC-COPEDEC VIII conference in 2012, there are two possibilities :

• Two host countries for the separate events;
• One host country for both the events.

Eric Van den Eede reminded the ExCom and the Council of the event that will be organized in Nagoya, Japan in 2009. Moreover, HQ received a proposal from Argentina to upgrade its Port Engineering Conference in April 2010 to fit in the framework of PIANC's 125th anniversary. Further details of this conference will be worked out with HQ. The closing event of the celebrations of PIANC's 125th anniversary should be held in Africa. In an earlier stage, the South African Section hinted to be a potential host for the event, but at the Council meeting, President Van den Eede also suggested not forgetting countries like Morocco, as new contacts have recently been established. He also thought it could be good to mention this topic during the Mediterranean Days in October 2008, given that also other African countries will be represented at that occasion.

Smart Rivers Conference

The fourth edition of this conference will be held in Vienna, Austria in 2009. At the Council meeting, Otto Schwetz announced that the preparations have started and that the event, together with the specific date, will be presented at the AGA in Beijing in May.

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NEWS FROM MARCOM

MarCom had its meeting on 31 January and 1 February 2008 in Brussels. The meeting welcomed Tore Lundestad, a new member from Norway, as well as a second YP: Manuel Arana from Spain.

The meeting discussed several new ToR and WG-reports and as a result of a proposal by IADC it was also decided to update the MarCom 6 report ("Classification of soils and rocks to be dredged"). Furthermore, the group brainstormed about topics for the MMX congress in 2010.

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NEWS FROM ENVICOM

27th EnviCom meeting in Yokosuka City, Japan

On 11 and 12 October 2007, the 27th EnviCom meeting was held at the Port and Airport Research Institute at Kurihama, Yokosuka City, Japan. This meeting was the most memorable one, as "good old" chairman, Dr. Robert Engler performed his last formal duty. Bob has been chairman of EnviCom since its establishment. His distinguished leadership and outstanding stature have produced excellent results including a variety of magnificent working group reports, the establishment of cooperative relationships with relevant environment organizations making an international network, etc.

The meeting discussed some important upcoming themes for EnviCom, such as climate change and navigation and "working with nature". The term "working with nature" will create a new philosophy for PIANC on how to implement navigation projects in the environment. A position paper will be prepared, which focuses on working with nature in a sustainable way during developing and maintaining navigation infrastructure and associated operations, properly mitigating where necessary after sustainable measures have been planned and implemented.

After the EnviCom meeting, the members made a field trip of Tokyo Bay cruise with Takashima. The members observed the Haneda new runway construction site from the sea and enjoyed the scenery of a modern city in the twilight.

EnviCom in Yokosuka City, Japan

Hiroichi Tsuruya
EnviCom member

28th EnviCom meeting in Brussels, Belgium

EnviCom held its 28th meeting on 31 January and 1 February 2008 in Brussels. The commission welcomed some new members: Audun Hauge from Norway will replace Tore Lundestad who changed to MarCom and Polite Laboyrie from CEDA will replace Neville Burt as chairman of the CEDA Environmental Committee. Furthermore, EnviCom also welcomed two YP’s to the meeting: Cornelia Ebert, who will replace Bruno Lemaire and Eric Marcone.

The meeting reviewed its action plan and strategic thinking. Moreover, the commission had a brainstorm about overarching activities, such as "Climate change" (Task Group 3) and how PIANC will deal with this topic in relation to navigation, as well as the development of a position paper on how to deal with nature. Also, the meeting discussed the topic "Education and training".

The next EnviCom meeting will take place on 25 and 26 September 2008 in Strasbourg, France.

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NEWS FROM RECCOM

51st meeting in Brussels

From left to right: H. Moen, M. Conti, J.A. McIntyre, J. Brolsma, J. Cox, J. Pyman, E. Ciralli, L. Odhe

RecCom held its 51st meeting on 31 January 2008 at PIANC HQ in Brussels. Attendees from the USA, The Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Norway, the UK and Italy discussed about several important items. The last period has been very fruitful for RecCom: WG9 ("Regeneration of harbour areas") and WG16 ("Protecting water quality in marinas") were finished and the reports are under publication. WG15 ("Use of alternative materials in marina construction") presented a draft of the report that the commission judged interesting and useful. The final draft will be presented during the 52nd RecCom meeting.

A real important interest was noted for the new WG 130 ("Anti sedimentation systems in marina and yacht-harbour") and WG 131 ("Catalogue of prefabricated marina elements"), demonstrated by several candidacies of members from a number of countries, now under the attention of the Commission. In the coming weeks the groups will be completed and Marcello Conti, chairman of the commission, will appoint the chairpersons. Experts interested on the matter have a few days to communicate their interest in participating directly to the General Secretariat in Brussels and to Elio Ciralli (elio.ciralli@cirallistudio.com). Other new working groups on "dry stack storage", "economic aspects of recreational navigations", "design and operational guidelines for superyacht facilities" and "sustainability aspects in marina planning, design and construction" were introduced for discussion during the ExCom meeting.

Moreover, RecCom has invited marina designers and owners to submit applications for the "2008 Jack Nichol Marina Design Award" for outstanding marina design. Unfortunately, the jury of the award could only accept one application, so that, in accordance with the rules for the award, the commission doesn't have the possibility to assign the prize for the year 2008. However, the commission stated that the interesting application received is eligible for the next edition of the award, in which a sufficient number of applications will be presented. In the meanwhile, the commission tries to ensure the enlargement of the number of participants.

In view of a stronger collaboration with ICOMIA-IMC, the meeting discussed the importance of the joint participation in working groups, awards and events. RecCom will be represented during the next 6th International Marina Conference in Oostende, Belgium, which will be organized from 25 until 28 May 2008 by Dirk Gunst and Jack Cox. Chairman Marcello Conti also focused the attention on the fact that RecCom shall be present during the most important PIANC events and in a particular during the congresses.

Elio Ciralli is present during PIANC-COPEDEC Congress in Dubai UAE and surely a good representation will be ensured during the PIANC Mediterranean Days, to be held in Palermo, Italy in October 2008. In fact the 52nd RecCom meeting will be held there on 6 October 2008.

Elio Ciralli
Secretary of RecCom

An Editing Committee for RecCom

As from now,

Robert Nathan (rnathan@moffattnichol.com),
Jessica McIntyre (jmcintyre@moffattnichol.com)
and Elio Ciralli (elio.ciralli@cirallistudio.com)

will be part of the newly formed Editing Committee of RecCom.

RecCom wishes that this committee can release and review communications and articles for official PIANC publications, as well as for the newsletter.

Elio Ciralli
Secretary of RecCom

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NEWS FROM YP-COM

YP-Com had a prosperous year in 2007. Four national sections (India, Iran, Portugal and Serbia) joined YP-Com, resulting in a total of fifteen national sections represented by twenty-one Young Professionals (YP's). The first technical visit organized by YP-Com was held in Venice, Italy in July. Twelve YP's from Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands visited the MO.S.E.-project and Experimental Centre for Hydraulic Models. YP-Com meetings were held in Brussels in February and Vienna in August with at least ten countries represented at each. YP-Groups in the national sections had numerous events including technical visits and seminars and social gatherings. In addition, many YP's joined working groups this year as their country's YP-representative. At the last ExCom meeting, chairman of YP-Com Holger Schüttrumpf was pleased to announce that the number of YP's in current Working Groups has doubled from thirty to sixty during the past year.

YPCOM February 2008 Meeting, Brussels From left to right: Jessica McIntyre (USA), Cornelia Ebert (Germany), Alice Clijncke (The Netherlands), Jan Goemaere (Belgium), Peter Troch (Belgium), Eric Marcone (Italy), Bruno Lemaire (France), Jürgen Trögl (Austria), Holger Schüttrumpf (Chair, Germany) and Vasco Borges (Portugal)

Jessica McIntyre
YP-Com

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NEWS FROM THE PIANC COMMUNITY

Website PIANC Mediterranean Days 2008 on-line

The official website of the PIANC Mediterranean Days 2008 has recently gone on-line. Please visit this site for more information and find the "First Announcement and Call for Papers". Go to www.mediterraneandays2008.it or www.mediterraneandays2008.info and learn more about it.

Infopage AGA '08

We have noticed that some e-mails concerning the AGA '08 have not been received by all of you. Therefore, we have created a webpage where you can find all necessary information. This page can be found at www.pianc-aipcn.org/congresses/aga2008.php.

On-line catalogue of prefabricated elements (MarCom 36)

PIANC is pleased to announce that as of now, the Working Group report "Catalogue of prefabricated elements" of MarCom 36 can also be consulted on-line. You can find it updated with the latest information at www.beringenieros.com/catalogo.


New: website PIANC Belgium

PIANC is pleased to announce that the Belgian National Section created its own webpage at www.pianc-aipcn.be. Besides a presentation of PIANC in general, as well as information about working groups and activities, the site also contains full contact details for the Belgian Section of PIANC, interesting links, as well as notices of forthcoming events of interest to PIANC members. All information is written both in Dutch as in French.

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PUBLICATIONS

Just shipped

Around 15 January, the following publications were distributed to the PIANC members :

Magazine "On Course" 130,
special issue dedicated to Dubai,
in the framework of the PIANC/COPEDEC VII Conference



PIANC report 96, (ex InCom 28)
Developments in automation
and the remote control of river works



PIANC report 97, (ex CoCom 1)
Joint report with IAPH)
"Ports located in small islands".

Publications pipeline

The following publications will be released around 15 April :

• Magazine "On Course" 131: special issue dedicated to China, in the framework of the AGA in Beijing;
• PIANC report 98 (ex RecCom 16) : "Protecting Water Quality in Marinas"

For any address changes and updates, please contact your National Section or PIANC HQ at info@pianc-aipcn.org.


Publications for the year 2008

Publication	Earliest Publication
Guidelines for marina design Study by RecCom Working Group nr. 17 Looking for new chairman	2008
Climate change and navigation Study by EnviCom Working Group nr. task group 3 Draft ready by next meeting	2008
Guidelines for Environmental Impacts of Vessels Study by InCom Working Group nr. 27 References of MarCom 48 to be included	2008/01
Manual for Life Cycle Management of Port Structures Study by MarCom Working Group nr. 42	2008/03
Minimising harbour Siltation Study by MarCom Working Group nr. 43 ultimate meeting 2007/10	2008/03
Regeneration of harbour areas Study by RecCom Working Group nr. 9	2008/03
Protecting water quality in marinas Study by RecCom Working Group nr. 16	2008/03
Sustainable Waterways within the context of Navigation and Flood Management Study by EnviCom Working Group nr. 12 Delay, last meeting 2007/10	2008/03
Guidelines for Port Constructions related to bowthrusters Study by MarCom Working Group nr. 48 Good progress	2008/08
Use of alternative materials Study by RecCom Working Group nr. 15	2008/08
Management, Reclamation of Dredged Material and the Use of Existing Confined Study by EnviCom Working Group nr. 11	2008/08
Best Management Practices Applied to Dredging and Dredged Material Disposal Projects for Protection of the Environment Study by EnviCom Working Group nr. 13 Presentation during CEDA dredging day	2008/08
Dredged Material as a resource Study by EnviCom Working Group nr. 14 Brochure needed	2008/08
Environmental aspects of dredging and port construction around coral reefs and cold water hard bottom benthic communities Study by EnviCom Working Group nr. 15 Good progress	2008/08
Organisation and management of river ports Study by InCom Working Group nr. 31 Report will be presented at the AGA '08 conference	2008/10
Inventory of Inspection and Repair Techniques of Navigation Structures Study by InCom Working Group nr. 30 New chairman : Eric Draege, expected to be a large document	2008/12

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ON THE CALENDAR

ICOMIA's 6th International Marina Conference - Final announcement

IMC 2008, ICOMIA's 6th International Marina Conference, will be held from 25 until 28 May 2008 in the Media Centre in Oostende, Belgium, under the auspices of the Flemish Community, the French Marinas Federation and the Syndicat Mixte de la Cote d'Opale. The theme for the conference will be "Alliances for Progress", referring to the networking between marina industry and allied public and private sector organizations worldwide for the enhancement of the recreational boating experience through new and improved boating facilities. There will be 85 speakers coming from 20 different countries to discuss a wide range of topics. The conference will be of particular interest to marina designers and owners, tourism professionals, government officials, developers, consultants, ports and terminals officials, as well as equipment manufacturers. All information about the full programme, conference topics, registration, etc. can be found on the official conference website at www.imc2008.com.

Gulf Coast Hurricane Preparedness, Response, Recovery and Rebuilding Conference

In November 2008, PIANC USA will organize The Gulf Coast Hurricane Preparedness, Response, Recovery and Rebuilding Conference in Mobile, Alabama. The objectives of the event are: to learn from recent hurricane experiences and challenges; to develop proactive navigation preparedness, response and recovery plans on regional and watershed scales; to foster interagency learning, coordination and cooperation leading to community and ecosystem resiliency; and to provide technical experience and directions for engineering and environmental challenges. This conference is a "must attend" conference for all professionals interested in sharing knowledge and experience in post storm ecosystem restoration and coastal infrastructure protection.

Take this opportunity to share your personal insight, technical experience, and knowledge by submitting an abstract for consideration. Abstracts should be submitted to pianc@usace.army.mil by 5 April 2008. All conference information will be posted at www.pianc.us. You can also click here (MS Word, 569 kB) to learn more about abstract submission info, the conference programme and topics, the technical workshops, etc.

Kelly Barnes
PIANC USA

Journée d'échange sur les barrages de navigation

Le 11 mars 2008 la section française de l'AIPCN et le Cetmef organisent à Paris, une journée francophone d'échanges techniques sur la reconstruction des barrages de navigation, avec la participation de Voies navigables de France et de la section belge de l'AIPCN.

Cette journée concerne l'ensemble des acteurs techniques: maîtres d'ouvrage, maîtres d'oeuvre et entreprises. Consultez le site web de la section française pour en savoir plus à l'adresse suivante: www.cetmef.equipement.gouv.fr/projets/transversaux/aipcn/index.html.

Olivier Piet
Secrétaire d'AIPCN France

ESPO conference in Hamburg

The next ESPO conference will be held in Hamburg, Germany on 29 and 30 May 2008. Following successful editions in Stockholm and Algeciras which were devoted to the European Commission's new ports policy, the ESPO Conference returns this year to the core business of ESPO members : the governance of seaports. The conference will gather know-how from European and international port and academic experts on the strategies and tools port managers have at their disposal to respond to contemporary governance challenges. Naturally, EU policy will not be absent from the agenda. For more information about the full programme of the conference, registrations and hotel reservations, please visit the conference website at www.espo-conference.com. For all further queries, do not hesitate to contact Cécile Overlau at the ESPO office ( cecile.overlau@espo.be).

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OBITUARY

John Pyman

PIANC regrets to announce that on 20 February John Pyman died following a routine hospital operation. John Pyman was an engineer, who loved very much life, people and travels. His passion for the sea and navigation was evident. He never failed to participate in PIANC’s activities, in Working Groups and lately as U.K. representative in the Recreational Navigation Commission (RecCom). Marcello Conti Chairman RecCom

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