As 2023 draws to a close, we turn our attention to the coming year and the plans IADC has for the future. Our focus in 2024 will be our continuing drive for sustainability and how the dredging industry can ensure its commitment to conduct projects in respect to the three pillars of sustainability. As an example, to align with the energy transition, the industry is looking at the use of biofuels as a more sustainable alternative to fossil fuel and many companies are already running vessels on LNG.
In light of the consequences of climate change, the expertise contained within the field of climate-adaptive solutions is becoming ever increasingly important. In addition to the devastation caused by the continuing war in the Ukraine and more recently, the troubles between Israel and Palestine, this year has had its own share of natural disasters. The Paris Agreement and its goals remain at the forefront for individuals and companies alike the world over.
The expertise contained within the field of climate-adaptive solutions is becoming ever increasingly important.
The publication of IADC’s paper, Sand as a resource: best practices to conduct responsible dredging projects, puts forward the steps needed toward environmental standards in regard to managing this infinite resource. As a sector, the dredging industry has extensive expertise in the sustainable extraction of sand and its goal is to share its experience and findings with a broader audience to advise other industries and stakeholders in sustainable practices. Taking these concerns to heart is the shared responsibility of dredging contractors, project designers, project owners and authorities, and IADC advocates for the social and environmental benefits gained as part of the many projects undertaken by our members around the world.
While our member companies each have their own best practices, it can only strengthen our sector, and in particular to show the world our commitment to creating sustainable infrastructure, to have a dreading industry set of standards.
The Sand as a resource paper falls under IADC’s strategy for Dredging for Sustainable Infrastructure. Part of this strategy plan is to disseminate the content of the book, by the same name, in a new format. There is work in the pipeline on a new magazine that will engage readers with the ideas, techniques and best practices of planning, designing, executing and maintaining water infrastructure projects. But more on that to come next year.
In the meantime, this issue of Terra et Aqua includes the winner of the 2023 IADC Safety Award that was presented to Boskalis for its new water box design that eliminates the risk of implosion. Used in many projects around the world, this type of water box is currently being used by Boskalis on the Manila International Airport project. We also explore the complex and challenging project to modernise the Świnoujście – Szczecin Fairway in Poland, which involved an extensive undertaking to clear UXOs from the work site. And on page 6, we share a recent numerical study on a jet pump by Delft University of Technology.
