Events

Workshop on Green Innovations keep the European Dredgers at global leading edge,Brussels, Silken Hotel.

This one-day workshop was organised by EuDA to gather the views of the European Commission and the different stakeholders on the subject of the European Dredgers’ initiatives stimulating “Green Innovations”.

From its traditional image in the public, European dredgin g has evolved in the last decades into the key activity in new land and waterways creation, in protecting and strengthening of sandy coastal areas and in maintaining the depth of waterways with relatively clean bottoms. As more and more clients and stakeholders consider sustainable development as increasingly important, environmental and ecological aspects of dredging activities have become strategic issues of paramount importance to keep a leading edge over foreign competitors. European dredging companies are therefore taking the lead in behaving responsibly and contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable (marine) environment.

The workshop ambitions to provide useful insight to the following questions:

• How to economically apply the ecosystem’s approach in marine coastal management?
• How can forces of nature be put to use in shaping coastal structures and works?
• Can industry create a win-win-win situation with positive economical, societal and environmental impacts?.

1. EuDA Workshop Programme
2. Speakers’ presentations :
   
   Workshop overall presentation
   • EuDA Environment Committee: Mr Eugen Jansen,
     “Green Innovations keep the European Dredgers at global leading edge“
   
   Setting the scene
   • Antwerp University: Prof. Patrick Meire, “Ecosystems in marine environments“European Commission: Mrs Birgit Snoeren, DG Environment, “EU environmental policy context marine and coastal areas“
   
   Integrated Coastal Zone Management:
   • THE NETHERLANDS: Mr Stefan Aarninkhof, ECOSHAPE, “Building with Nature: Motivation – Concept – Program“BELGIUM: Mr Bart Verboomen, Vlaamse Baaien 2100, “Flanders Bays Safe, natural, attractive, sustainable, developing“
   
   Example Cases of Innovations in Dredging Operations:
   • Port of Rotterdam: Mr Tiedo Vellinga, “MAASVLAKTE 2 Monitoring and Evaluation“
   • BMAPA: Mr Mark Russell
     MALSF: Mr Richard Newell, “Marine Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund (MALSF), Green Innovations“