Tokyo: 2nd International Workshop on Coastal Disaster Prevention

On 18 and 19 January, the Japanese Section of PIANC, together with Port and Airport Research Institute (PARI), Coastal Development Institute of Technology (CDIT) and Asian Civil Engineering Coordinating Council, held their 2nd International Workshop on Coastal Disaster Prevention (tsunami and storm surge) in Tokyo. Among the participants were speakers and panellists from Korea, Indonesia, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, the United States and Japan. About 450 scientists and engineers participated in lectures and discussions.

Topics on the first day were:

• Experimental study of tsunamis,
• Numerical simulation of tsunamis,
• Field survey on the Indian Ocean tsunami,
• Countermeasure for tsunami disaster.

• Numerical simulation of storm surge and waves,
• Field survey on the hurricane Katrina,
• Coastal Disaster Prevention,
• Panel discussion.

Tatsuro Okumura
Secretary Japanese Section PIANC

Magenthran Ruthenavelu
YP Representative of the South African National Section

Dutch YP’s visit Euromax terminal in Rotterdam

On 23 March, sixteen members of the Dutch YP’s paid a visit to the construction site of the Euromax Container Terminal in Rotterdam. This design and construction project is being executed by BAM Civiel. Mr. Wernsen and Mr. Keesom, two designers of Delta Marine Consultants (DMC), welcomed the YP’s at the brand new visitor’s centre, which had just opened its doors on 20 March.

DMC provided BAM Civiel with two tender designs, which were presented by the port of Rotterdam. These tender designs were not only judged on economical aspects, but also on innovative aspects. This way of selecting made that the more expensive design, including a concrete diaphragm wall, was chosen above the steel combiwall.

The quay has a length of 2 km with a retaining height of 27 m. The quay is being built on the landsite. After the construction, the ground in front of the wall will be dredged to a depth of almost 17 m, which can be extended to 20 m in the future. For this construction, a future container ship of 12.500 TEU is foreseen. Today already 200 m of the quay has been built.

The Young PIANC Group had the opportunity to see every construction stage during an extensive and interesting guiding tour :

• Trench and making of the diaphragm wall
• Construction site of reinforcement of the superstructure and diaphragm wall
• Construction of MV piles and vibro-piles
• In situ casting of the superstructure.

Dutch YP’s visit Euromax terminal in Rotterdam

Alice Clijncke
Charlotte van der Vorm-Hoek
YP Representatives of the Dutch National Section

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On the calendar

ITMMAPS Maritime and Port Symposium 2006

ITMMAPS Maritime and Port Symposium 2006 will be held in Antwerp from 25 till 28 October 2006. The conference is organized by ITMMA – University of Antwerp – in close partnership with the Dalian Maritime University (DMU), the European Sea Ports Organization (ESPO) and the Antwerp Port Authority. ITMMAPS 2006 will bring together industry leaders and academics to exchange ideas on the conference theme "Fostering Seaports – and Beyond".

Ports are confronted with changing economic and logistics systems. We should foster the role seaports have to play in facilitating the global economy. At the same time, seaports need to be embedded in their local multi-stakeholder environment. ITMMAPS 2006 will help to unravel today’s challenges and advance and update our thinking on ports. Conference topics include logistics integration in shipping and ports, port governance and the role of port authorities, the "China factor" in the European port and logistics industry, the human factor in terminal operations, a stakeholders approach to port planning and more. The event will incorporate the results of past conferences (ITMMAPS 2002, ICLSP 2004 and ESPO 2005) and will be held in the slipstream of the ESPO 2006 Conference in Stockholm (1-2 June 2006). For more information, please visit the website of ITMMAPS


9th International River Symposium

The 9th International River Symposium will be held from 4 to 7 September 2006 in Brisbane, Australia. This time, the River Symposium explores river management from the perspective of science, business, institutions and the community in managing problems facing rivers, waterways and catchments around the world. The overall theme will be "Managing rivers with climate change and expanding populations".

The River Symposium is an integral part of Brisbane's River Festival, an annual, cultural festival focused on the Brisbane River, celebrating water and promoting environmental sustainability. River Symposium delegates will have the opportunity to experience the festival's program of events held over ten days from 1 to 10 September, which incorporate entertainment, art, environmental science and sport.

For more information, please visit www.riversymposium.com or write to Emily Smigrod, Event Coordinator, at emily@riverfestival.com.au.


4th International Conference on Remediation of Contaminated Sediments. Call for abstracts

From 22 to 25 January 2007, Georgia will host the 4th International Conference on Remediation of Contaminated Sediments in the Marriott Riverfront Hotel. This time, the theme will be "Efficient Assessment, Effective Management, Successful Remediation". Next to short courses, there will also be poster presentations, several panel discussions and a plenary session. Presentations will cover essentially all aspects of contaminated sediment characterization and assessment, management and remediation, as well as restoration.

Abstracts can be sent in before 30 June 2006. They must be written in English, cannot exceed one page and must clearly and concisely outline the topic. Furthermore, they are to be submitted in electronic form from the conference website. The Call for Abstracts brochure has been made available in February 2006 and contains all information about the abstracts. To request a copy of the brochure or to inquire about exhibiting or co-sponsoring, please write to info@confgroupinc.com. For more information or to register for the conference, please visit the conference website at www.battelle.org/sedimentscon.

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Just shipped

At around 15 January, the following publications have been distributed to PIANC members :

Magazine "On Course" 122	EnviCom 8 (English): "Biological Assessment Guidance for Dredged Material"	InCom 26 (English): "Design of Movable Weirs and Storm Surge Barriers"

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Obituary

Geoffrey Philip Martin 1925 - 2005

Geoff Martin was one of the world’s foremost designers of dry docks and dry dock gates. He studied at Birmingham University and joined T.F.Burns in the early 1950’s, becoming a full partner in 1956. He continued as a Senior Partner and subsequently chairman until the firm amalgamated with Posford Duvivier in 1992 (the firm is now known as Royal Haskoning). During his career, Geoff presented, together with others, four outstanding papers on dry docks to the Institution of Civil Engineers and he was an enthusiastic contributor to PIANC.

Geoff took the firm into a new type of work with the design of dry dock gates. He was always most considerate and supportive of others and his training has enabled the firm, Royal Haskoning, to continue at the forefront of the design of shipyards and dry dock works. After retirement, he began working on an important humanitarian project: the design and construction of a floating hospital in Bangladesh for the IMPACT Foundation. The result is the Jibon Tari, "The Boat of Life", which is able to move up and down rivers bringing health services to the poorest in areas with little or no access to health care.

Geoffrey Philip Martin with model of Jibon Tari