Volume 7, Issue 1
In Remembrance: Robert M. Engler, Ph.D.
It is with great sadness and respect that we honor our PIANC USA Commissioner, Bob Engler, who passed away early morning, March 5, 2015. In addition to his intellect and scientific expertise, he was a passionate leader, mentor, innovator, and friend. He will be greatly missed by the PIANC community world-wide, but he leaves behind a distinguished legacy.
More information: Full Story
Ed Schmeltz Selected as new PIANC Vice-President
The U.S. section of PIANC nominated Edward Schmeltz, Co-Chairman of the PIANC International Co-operation Commission (CoCom) and PIANC USA Commissioner, to replace John Headland as the PIANC International Vice-President for the Western Hemisphere. In its meeting on February 5, 2015, the PIANC Executive Committee approved Schmeltz’s candidacy and felt that he could successfully combine his position as Co-Chairman of CoCom with his Vice-Presidency. The PIANC Council will forward his candidacy to the Annual General Assembly for ratification.
Dredging 2015 Abstracts in Review
The Dredging 2015 Conference will take place October 19-22, 2015 in Savannah, Georgia. The Call for Abstracts closed in early February and the conference technical committee has been busy reviewing all the abstracts that were submitted. Authors were notified in early April, and the technical program and registration will be released by the end of May.
Sponsor and Exhibit at Dredging 2015
Take a lead role in sponsoring the Dredging 2015 Conference. Put your organization’s name prominently in front of decision-makers, reinforce your brand, and cement yourself as a market leader! We have a variety of sponsorship opportunities available in conjunction with the conference. All packages include an exhibit space, the opportunity to choose your booth space, and exclusive access to advertising and bag insert opportunities.
Organizations that provide services or goods related to any aspects of dredging and dredged material placement are cordially invited to join us in the Exhibit Hall at the Dredging 2015 Conference (expecting more than 700 attendees)! This venue provides an excellent opportunity to maintain industry contacts, cultivate new customers, and increase recruiting potential. The professional interaction and exchange of ideas remains a hallmark of the Dredging conference series. Don’t miss out!
SMART Rivers 2015 Conference
Preparations are on-going for the PIANC-SMART Rivers 2015 Conference, which will take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina on September 7-11, 2015. The organizers received a great response for the Call for Abstracts. See the website for the latest updates.
PIANC at the 2015 World Water Forum
The 7th World Water Forum took place on April 12-17, 2015 in Daegu, Korea. On April 16, 2015 a PIANC session in the main technical program is scheduled on “Water Infrastructure for Sustainable Transport and Economic Development.” See the World Water Forum site or the flyer for more details. The session includes speakers from France, the United States, Germany, Korea and Argentina. The information will be documented and included in the WWF closing report.
More information: World Water Forum listing | Program flyer (pdf, 260 KB)
Ports 2016 Call for Abstracts Extended
The PORTS ’16 Conference will take place June 12 – 15, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Call for Abstracts is open! Share your valuable experience with the global ports and harbors development community by submitting an abstract for consideration. Abstracts are due April 22, 2015.
Young Professionals Update
Attention Young Professionals (YPs), the PIANC Young Professionals Commission is a professional network for PIANC members 40 years of age and younger. Join us on our LinkedIn group!
The Young Professionals Commission (YP-Com) hosted a successful event this past December and looks forward to another successful event in May. YP-Com held the 1st PIANC YP-Com Asian Seminar in Yokohama, Japan from December 8-11, 2014. More than 35 participants from countries around the world attended the seminar. The 5th YP-Com Biennial Technical Visit will take place in Belgium on May 6-8, 2015 and will focus on Offshore Wind and Blue Energy. Only a few seats remain, so sign up now!
PIANC Yearbook Now Available
The PIANC Yearbook 2014 has been released and can be downloaded at http://www.pianc.org/yearbookbrowseall.php.
Call for PIANC Technical Commission Representatives
Nominations are being accepted for candidates interested in serving as the U.S. Principal Representative, Alternate, or YP Observer for our four technical commissions. Terms of appointment will be four years, and can be renewed once. The technical commissions usually meet twice per year, most often in Europe. Candidates must have their own travel support, either from their employer or personal resources.
New Working Group Call for Members: PIANC Joint 182 and RecCom 183
PIANC is seeking volunteers for two new working groups. Please see the “Terms of Reference” for specific information on each group. If interested in serving as a U.S. Rep or on a subcommittee, please email CVs to Anne Cann, PIANC USA Secretary, by April 30, 2015.
EnviCom Guidance Document 124, InCom Working Group 155, and MarCom Working Group 180 Release Reports
The Guidance Document report of EnviCom 124, “Dredging and Port Construction: Interactions with Features of Archaeological or Heritage Interest,” and the Working Group reports of InCom 155, “Ship Behaviour in Locks and Lock Approaches,” and MarCom 180, “Guidelines for protecting berthing structures from scour caused by ships,” have been released and are available on the PIANC website. For PIANC members, the reports are free on the Members Only pages at https://www.pianc.org/login. Look under “Free Technical Reports.” For non-members, the reports are available in the download shop at https://www.pianc.org/publications. Look under “EnviCom,” “InCom” and “MarCom.”
More information: GD 124 Press Release (pdf, 259 KB) | WG 155 Press Release (pdf, 292 KB) | WG 180 Press Release (pdf, 247 KB)
PIANC Working Group 176 Kick-off Meeting in Brussels
PIANC Working Group 176, “A Guide for Applying Working with Nature (WwN) to Navigation Infrastructure Projects,” held its kick-off meeting on February 2, 2015 in Brussels Belgium at PIANC Headquarters. The group included members from the U.S., Malaysia, Germany, Australia, Belgium and the UK. WG 176 aims to produce a technical guide that promotes WwN as a sustainable delivery of services to the navigation community. See the meeting summary for more details.
More information: WG 176 Kick-Off Meeting (pdf, 100 KB)
Tackling “Waterborne Transport Infrastructure” in Brussels
The Special Task Force on the “State and Perspectives of Waterborne Transport Infrastructure Worldwide” held its kickoff meeting February 4-5, 2015 in Brussels, Belgium. This group is chaired by PIANC USA Commissioner Mr. Nick Pansic of MWH Global. PIANC also announced the formation of Working Group 181 to investigate and report on the Future of Global Waterborne Transportation Infrastructure.
Ron Coles and PIANC Report 158 in The Waterways Journal
The Waterways Journal recently interviewed Ron Coles, of W.R. Coles & Associates, about his involvement in PIANC Working Group (WG) 158 and its subsequent report. The report, published in September 2014, is titled “Masterplans for the Development of Existing Ports” and is the first international PIANC manual for port master planning, development and operations. Coles lent his expertise on inland and river port issues to the writing of the manual. The Waterways Journal article goes on to detail W.R. Coles’ development of the Owensboro Riverport Authority in Kentucky, where the WG 158 report was used as a reference. The article was published in the February 23, 2015 issue of the magazine.
More information: The Waterways Journal | MarCom 158 Report (For Members) | MarCom 158 Report (For Non-members)
PIANC Working Group 153 signs “Zagreb Accord” in Croatia
Members of PIANC Working Group 153 signed the “Zagreb Accord” on March 18, 2015 in Zagreb, Croatia. WG 153 is preparing a PIANC document entitled “Recommendations for the Design and Assessment of Marine Oil & Petrochemical Terminals” which is scheduled for publication in 2016. The so-called “Accord” must still be ratified by all members before becoming the official position of the Working Group.
ASCE Honors Ed Schmeltz with Lifetime Achievement Award
ASCE Honors Ed Schmeltz with Lifetime Achievement Award The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) presented Edward Schmeltz, Co-Chairman of the PIANC International Co-operation Commission and soon-to-be Vice President of PIANC, with an award at its annual Outstanding Projects and Leaders (OPAL) Awards Gala on March 26, 2015. Mr. Schmeltz received the OPAL Lifetime Achievement Award for Design. A short video detailing his career was played at the gala where his family, colleagues and friends joined him to celebrate his achievements.
More information: Full Story
The PIANC Bulletin, formerly a quarterly newsletter and now a bi-monthly e-newsletter, is designed to keep interested parties up-to-date on the latest PIANC USA developments.