On April 25th, the 22nd World Dredging Conference ended successfully in Shanghai. As the most important conference in the global dredging industry, this conference attracted the participation of many dredging companies from home and abroad. Several experts from Poscalis, one of the “Europe's four major dredging companies”, participated in and exchanged academic results at the conference.

Thomas Vijverberg from the Postellis Hydrodynamics Institute made two impressive reports at the conference, "Useful Use and Case Studies of Sustainable Management of Sediments" and "Soft (Adhesive) Materials in Land) The ecological value and economic utilization in the cofferdam: taking the Macken Lake-Wadden Sea study as an example, opened up a vision for the guests present. After the meeting, the reporter found him and asked him to talk about his own views on the current conference and the development trend of dredging.

Report by Thomas Vijverberg

Thomas said that the number and quality of papers in this conference are amazing. More than 700 participants discussed the trend and development of the industry. In particular, the number of authors in China is high and the quality is high. This will promote the industry's development. The theme of this conference focuses on the impact of dredging on the environment, which is in line with his research direction, fine particle sediment dynamics. He introduced reporters to cases related to fine-grained sediments, such as the Markenwalden (Ecological Island) project.

The project is aimed at the destruction of the biological ecosystem caused by the decline of the water quality of the Markerwadden Wetlands Lake. In 2012, the NGO organized and funded a cooperation with the government to carry out a lake ecological restoration project. After demonstration, the project adopted measures to excavate three subsidence tanks, and through 15-20 years, the floating sediments in the lake bottom and the suspended solids in the lake water gradually settled into the trough, and the water quality of the lake was clarified. The sediment in the excavation tank is used to fill an ecological artificial wetland in the heart of the lake and “man-made” a natural shoreline to create a sustainable habitat for birds and other animals and plants.

Markenwalden (Ecological Island) Project

Referring to the harmonious development of dredging in the future and ecology, Thomas also expressed his views from his professional perspective.

He said that in the future, fine-grained sediment will become more and more important and provide opportunities for the dredging industry. For example, the shortage of sand sources that began in Asian countries. In the past, when we mentioned non-renewable resources, the first thing we thought of was oil and gas. The reality is that “the seemingly ubiquitous sand source is actually non-renewable. Gradually, the scarcity of sand sources is more prominent.” In the management and beneficial use of fine particle deposits, the dredging industry should be an important topic for research. Thomas said that CEDA's thematic working group will publish a paper on the beneficial use of fine-grained sediment in May 2019. The project has been going on for a year and a half, from European universities, delta research institutes, dredging companies, etc. Work together to complete this research.

Xue Bing, China's manager of Poscalis, also expressed his views on the green development of the dredging industry.

Xue Bing, China Manager of Poscalis

He said that European dredging companies are accelerating the shift to green and ecological dredging. “This momentum has been rare in the past. In the past, we generally believed that dredging is improving the environment, including improving the navigation environment, living environment, etc. But now, we are beginning to realize the importance of harmony with nature, and the development of the project should be Pay attention to minimizing the disturbance to the environment. Just like the 'new building' next to the 'old building', you can't simply dismantle it, but you should retain the value of nature to the utmost extent." He told reporters that the European dredging company is The signals of “ecological dredging” are actively transmitted through their respective methods. For example, DEME's LNG dual fuel power dredging fleet. Of course, Poscaris is also trying to replace traditional fuels with biodiesel. He said, "We have confidence in the future dredging. Because of the development of trade, ports, shipping, climate change, coastal protection needs, etc., these demands mean the irreplaceability of the dredging industry. Although the dredging industry is a Traditional industries, but in terms of long-term development, dredging is also an indispensable industry."

The views of the two experts are highlighting the theme of the 22nd World Dredging Conference “Driering and Ecological Harmony”. It can be seen that in the face of the fundamental needs of global ecological construction, the dredging industry is constantly innovating ideas, design, equipment, and engineering implementation measures. Under the guidance of the 22nd World Dredging Conference - Shanghai Consensus on Promoting Dredging and Sustainable Development, the world The members of the dredging community will be in step, and we will have a reason to look forward to a better future for the industry in order to achieve the harmonious development of the industry and society, economy and ecology.