Integrating dredging in sustainable development

The International Association of Dredging Companies (IADC) aims to inform the world about the fundamental need for dredging as well as advocating for an industry that makes the world a safer, better and more sustainable place to live. Adapted from the second chapter of the book, Dredging for Sustainable Infrastructure (2018), this article presents the concept of sustainability in relation to dredging projects. It describes the approaches and practices that are key to using dredging and dredge material to create more sustainable solutions and infrastructure – a modern way of thinking about dredging.

Finding innovative solutions to improve safety

When individual employees, teams and companies view everyday processes and situations through a continuous lens of safety, they can each contribute to making all aspects of operational processes, whether on water or land, safer. For the 2023 Safety Awards, IADC's Safety Committee received nine submissions. Each one is assessed on five different categories; sustainability; level of impact on the industry; simplicity in use; effectiveness; and level of innovation.

Sand as a resource: Best practices to conduct responsible dredging projects

On 5 September 2023, IADC published a paper by the same name in response to a 2022 United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) report “Sand and sustainability: 10 strategic recommendations to avert a crisis”. In this report, UNEP calls for actions to set the global sand agenda in addressing environmental needs alongside justice, equity, technical, economic and political considerations. IADC’s paper highlights the dredging industry’s best practices for optimal use of scarce sand resources. This article is a condensed version of that paper.

Course “Dredging for Sustainable Infrastructure” held from 12-14 December in Abu Dhabi

This 2.5-day course is organised with the support of NMDC. Site visit included! IADC, CEDA, PIANC and IAPH members can participate in the course at a special rate.

Improved safety design of the water box by Boskalis, winner of the IADC Safety Award 2023

IADC granted the 2023 Safety Award for dredging contractors to Boskalis for its improved safety design of the water box.

Dredging and Reclamation Seminar Delft (NL) 1-5 July 2024

To optimise the chances of the successful completion of a project, contracting parties should, from the start, fully understand the requirements of a dredging project. IADC’s five-day seminar strives to provide an understanding of the basics of dredging through lectures and workshops which are given by industry experts in a classroom setting for a hands-on […]

Course “Dredging for Sustainable Infrastructure”; 12-14 December 2023, Abu Dhabi

Learn how to achieve dredging projects that fulfil primary functional requirements while adding value to the natural and socio-economic systems by acquiring an understanding of these systems in the context of dredging as well as stakeholder engagement throughout a project’s development.