Pushing boundaries

Communicating the ‘wonders’ of dredging

The IADC says that 50 years after its formation, the priority remains the same: “To reveal the wonders of dredging and the contribution that the industry makes to our world community.”

Communication, then, is vital. Terra et Aqua Journal, a technical-scientific publication, is produced quarterly in print and online and includes articles from experts in the maritime sector.

The IADC also produces its The Facts About series of executive summaries and annual Dredging in Figures. A number of publications have been developed in partnership with other organisations, and the IADC also takes a proactive part in many conferences.

Education is also a priority, together with rewarding the achievements of young researchers in dredging-related activities. The Young Author Award is presented regularly for excellent papers and presentations by under-35s, and the IADC Seminar on Reclamation was initiated in the 1990s.

The IADC has more than 100 main and associated members.

This year’s anniversary is being marked by a series of events and special publications.

In October, a special conference is being organised at the Island Shangri-La Hotel, in Hong Kong. As the IADC says, the land reclamation for the Chek Lap Kok Airport marked a turning point for the modern dredging industry and the beginning of a building boom in Asia. This conference will represent a “return to the roots of this masterpiece of maritime infrastructure”.

A book entitled Beyond Sand and Sea will feature photographs of 50 major projects realised over the past 50 years, illustrating that “dredging is far more than excavating sand and placing it in the sea”.