Presentation: ‘There is ”more” in maritime infrastructure‘ by Marc Huygens (DEME) − Environmental Manager

There are opportunities to develop and implement new solutions for maritime infrastructure challenges. In addition to technical-economical values there is a big commitment to create both environmental and social values. To take the industry to the next level it is necessary to attract students and young professionals to the industry to ensure all externalities are taken into consideration from the onset of a project. The “Social Benefits Wheel” is a tool that can help track the degree to which a project or programme is attaining its social development targets and goals.

Sustainability Committee

With an ever increasing focus on sustainability the recently established Sustainability Committee (2020) defined a sustainability framework, giving direction for both present and future activities. With the publication of the book “Dredging for Sustainable Infrastructure”, and more recently the report Financing of Sustainable Marine and Freshwater Infrastructure: A joint study to explore financing of green coastal, river and port projects, this has become even more of a spearhead for IADC.

At IADC’s 2^nd digital Annual General Meeting, held on 16 September 2021, 4 members of the Sustainability Committee and the Secretary General gave presentations highlighting a number of their activities. The focus here has been on developing tools and methodologies that will help IADC and its members to promote even further, and to a wider audience, the “know-how” and the commitment that the industry has to ensuring dredging projects are executed in the most sustainable way possible.