“A perfect conference”, “inspiring experience”, “very good atmosphere” reflected many of the participants on the past two days when they said good bye to the organisers of CEDA Dredging Days 2012. Entitled “Virtue, Venture & Vision in the Coastal Zone” this year’s edition of CEDA’s prestigious series of conferences, took place from 12-13 December in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Under the umbrella of the World Organisation of Dredging Associations, WODA, CEDA is responsible for Africa, Europe and the Middle East. While CEDA Dredging Days have been organized a great many times in Europe and a couple of times in Africa it’s only the first time that CEDA Dredging Days has been held in the Middle East. The Board of CEDA was very pleased with the opportunity and the support given by CEDA members as speakers, session chairs, exhibitors or sponsors to make this event to happen.
With 170 participants representing 53 organisations from business, government and academia and coming from 19 different countries were present in the two-day event. In five technical sessions 19 peer reviewed papers were presented. In addition there was a keynote address by Mr Amer Al Hammadi, executive director of planning and infrastructure of the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council Council (UPC). An invited talk by Pol Hakstege about climate change and the challenges and opportunities it presents for dredging and an update on CEDA’s environmental work by Lindsay Murray CEDA Vice-President completed the technical sessions’ programme.
At the technical exhibition 13 exhibiting companies had their latest products and services on display contributing greatly to the Dredging Days experience.
Always a nice moment: The International Association of Dredging Companies (IADC) Young Authors Award was given to Arnoud Verschelde from Dredging International, Belgium for the paper entitled “Erosion behavior of a draghead”.
Delegates were treated to a superb programme of technical visits during which they had the opportunity to view a number of selected, recently finished projects such as the Mangrove Channels, Fishing Port, Al Maryah Island and Corniche Beach. One group did the tour on boat and the other one with a helicopter.
The small group of partners guided by Hetty Post had a wonderful time visiting the Abu Dhabi landmarks and experiencing the “sites and sounds” of this great city.
All in all, CEDA Dredging Days in Abu Dhabi was a great conference with lots of interactions, opportunities to learn new things, meet new contacts colleagues and to catch up with old friends. No doubt it will stay in the memory of many of the attendees for a long time to come.
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Press Release, December 20, 2012