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1. Sustainable dredging of
Mediterranean Ports: the future for sediment management |
Co-organised with
ISPRA (Italian National Institute for Environmental
Protection and Research)
Chairmen morning session: Axel Netzband, Hamburg Port
Authority, Germany /
Bernardo De Bernardinis, ISPRA President, Italy |
The main objective of the Integrated Maritime Policy (COM(2007)
575 final and SEC(2007) 1278), is to maximise the use of
the sea whilst maintaining a viable sustainable
environment. This goal can only be achieved if account
is taken of the impact of the different policies that
are deployed on the seas, be it environment, transport,
energy, research, fisheries, security, etc. This
requires cross-border and cross-sectoral work. The
Mediterranean partner countries have expressed a keen
interest in developing an integrated maritime policy for
the whole of the Mediterranean basin, and not only the
EU part. This is the framework where port dredging and
related sediment management must be seen, being a clear
example where socio-economic necessity and environmental
safeguarding must be reconciled in integrated
sustainable solutions.
Presently, International Conventions dealing with
dredging and sediment management are active in the
Mediterranean Sea, in addition to the legislation in
force at national level.The
aims of the Session are to:
- define the overall framework and
the needs for sediment management at the country and
basin scale;
- present and discuss how dredging
is affecting port sustainable development and the
implementation of IMP;
- review the legislation in force
and analyse differences and gaps;
- review and compare practices and
solutions adopted and discuss how to promote the
diffusion of Best Management Practices;
- point out open issues and make
recommendations for future actions.
The Session involved scientists,
administrators, public and private stakeholders and case
studies from different countries were presented, mainly
from the Mediterranean area. The round table discussion
that concluded the Session discussed how sediment
management is important/crucial for port activities and
development and which approaches should be followed to
solve present limitations and to promote sustainable
solutions, reconciling environmental, social and
economical demands. |
Welcome and Setting the scene |
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Welcome
Patrizio Cuccioletta, Venice Water Authority
President, Italy |
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Introduction to the Session
Bernardo De Bernardinis, ISPRA President |
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Dredging and sediment management – the
significance for the European Port Sector and
the Mediterranean Ports
Marc Eisma, on behalf of the European Sea Ports
Organisation |
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1.
Regulatory
aspects of sediment management in the EU
2.
Sustainable dredging of Mediterranean Ports :
the future for sediment management - Regulatory
aspects of Sediment Management in the EU
3.
Specific guidelines for assesment of dredged
material
Ann Carette, University of Antwerp / Flemish
Environment Agency, Belgium |
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How can science
inform the pathway toward more harmonized
environmentally safe and sustainable solutions?
Andrea Barbanti, Thetis / SedNet steering group,
Italy |
Stakeholder forum |
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Informing sound
practice in managing sediments: focusing 125
years of international experience through
PIANC’s Environmental Commission
Todd Bridges, USACE-ERDC / PIANC, USA |
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Sustainable
management of dredged sediments
Polite Laboyrie, Chairman CEDA Environment
Commission |
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The role of
Environmental Agencies and Research Institutions
for sustainable sediment management
Elena Romano, ISPRA, Italy |
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Dredging and
remediation of Porto Marghera industrial canals
in the context of Italian port dredging needs
and practices
Roberto Casarin, Porto Marghera Commissary,
Italy
and Emanuele Zanotto, Venice Port Authority,
Italy |
Chairman afternoon session: Andrea Barbanti, Thetis,
Italy |
Case studies |
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The experience
in sediment management of the Ports of
Rotterdam,
Hamburg and
Antwerp
Marco Wensveen, Port of Rotterdam Authority, NL
Axel Netzband, Port of Hamburg Authority,
Germany
Agnès Heylen, Port of Antwerp Authority, Belgium |
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Dredging
sediment management in Slovenia
Franca Cepak, Port of Koper, Slovenia |
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Management of
sediments dredged in ports and harbours in
Greece
Michael Aftias, YDRONOMI Consulting Engineers
and Maria Georgiadou, Greek Ministry of Public
Works and Transportation, Greece |
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Dredging and
regional sediment management in the USA
Linda Lillycrop, US Army Engineer Research and
Development Center – Coastal and Hydraulics
Laboratory, USA |
Round table discussion |
Round table discussion with
representatives of administrations, agencies, and
stakeholders:
Philippe Bourdeau - Université libre de Brussels
Todd Bridges - PIANC (The World Association for
Waterborne Transport Infrastructure)
Paolo Costa - Venice Port Authority
Luciano Guerrieri - Assoporti - Association of Italian
Ports
Francesco Karrer - High Council of Public Works
Polite Laboyrie - CEDA (Central Dredging Association)
Marco Lupo - Italian Ministry of the Environment
Massimo Gabellini – Italian Institute for Environmental
Protection and Research, ISPRA
Massimo Montevecchi - Sidra-DEME (Dredging,
Environmental & Marine Engineering Contractor)
Moderator: Marc Eisma, Port of Rotterdam
Authority, NL / SedNet steering group
Reporter: Luciano De Propris, MATTM-ISPRA, Italy
Download:
Introduction
Presentation Todd Bridges (PIANC)
Presentation Paolo Costa (Venice Port Authority)
Presentation Polite Laboyrie (CEDA)
Final outcomes |
Conclusions
You can download here the
conclusions and the
summary |
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Top
2. Sediments in a changing environment |
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Chairman: Eric de Deckere, University
of Antwerp, Belgium |
Suspended sediments are exposed to permanently
changing conditions – during sedimentation-resuspension
cycles and during their transport from rivers to the sea.
Oxygen concentration, temperature, salinity, exposure to
light – they will all have some impact on mobility and
availability of contaminants that at some stage have
been adsorbed to sediment surfaces.
The amount of suspended sediment as well as its quality
may change with a changing climate. More extreme floods
will resuspend more sediment and from deeper and thus
more contaminated layers. In some areas, sediments may
be exposed to longer dry phases, when water levels in
lakes and rivers are reduced during droughts.
Knowledge on the impact of these changing environmental
conditions on bioavailability and toxicity of
contaminants should help us to link sediment quality to
ecosystem protection criteria, as well as linking river
basin target values to marine target values. |
Overview |
Six 10 minute statements were given by invited
experts on the impact of environmental parameters on
bioavailability of particle bound contaminants –
relating laboratory results to field conditions – what
do we know, what do we not know?
The parameters covered included organics and metals,
effects of increased temperature, wet-dry cycles, light
exposure, oxygen content.
Invited experts:
Sabine Apitz, SEA Environmental Decisions, UK
Tim Iannuzzi, Arcadis, USA
Andrew Hursthouse, University of the West of Scotland,
UK
David Paterson, University of St. Andrews, UK
Dick Bakker, Deltares, NL
Günther Eichweber, Waterway and Shipping Administration,
Germany
And also:
Eric de Deckere, University of Antwerp, Belgium
Susanne Heise, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences,
Germany |
Discussions |
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Small discussion groups were formed, each
addressing a different aspect of climate change such as
increased frequency of riverine high water discharges;
salinity changes due to rising sea levels; increased
light intensity for intertidal areas; increased plankton
blooms and how they =affect the transport of
contaminants etc. Each group identified appropriate
cases (where do these conditions apply? Which part of
what river?) and summarized the discussion with bullet
points. Presentations
Group 1 -
Group 2 -
Group 3 -
Group 4 |
Conclusions
You can download here the
conclusions and the
summary |
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Top
3.
Dredged material assessment nowadays and in the future |
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Chairman: Peter Heininger, Federal
Institute of Hydrology, Germany -
Introduction |
The complex network of navigation routes between
coastal ports forms a foundation of our economies, and
the dependence on seas and waterways has been vital to
the economic success and social progress of most
countries worldwide. At the same time a deep awareness
of needs for protecting and working with the environment
exists, which is reflected by several European Framework
Directives. These socio-economic and ecological
objectives may be in conflict. Given that international
trade continues to expand, increased demands both in
terms of socio-economy and environment will be placed on
European ports.
Dredging is one of the core activities in order to
maintain and develop ports, harbours and navigable
waterways. Globally, many hundreds of millions of cubic
metres of sediment are dredged annually, mostly in
coastal areas. There are many ways that dredging and
disposal may affect the environment. The overall
management goal of any dredging project should be to
achieve a sustainable solution, weighing and balancing
all the associated risks and benefits. Thus, dredged
material assessment nowadays has to account for the
environmental, social and financial consequences of an
intended dredging project.
Starting with a concise description of the state of
knowledge, this special session intended to exchange
European experience with dredged material assessment and
to define further development needs in this field. |
Setting the scene |
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Current approach to dredged material assessment
in England and Wales
Chris Vivian, Cefas, UK |
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Dredged material assessment in the US: moving
toward risk-informed decision making
Todd Bridges, USACE-ERDC, USA |
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SMOCS - a participatory approach to establish
guidelines for dredged material assessment
Wolfgang Ahlf, TU Hamburg-Harburg, Germany |
European experience |
Short statements from European countries each
addressing maximum 3 major problems from the respective
national perspective.
- The Netherlands -
Pol Hakstege (Ministry of
Infrastructure and Environment)
- Germany -
Birgit Schubert (Federal Institute of
Hydrology)
- Denmark -
Jane Brons-Hansen (Ministry of Environment)
- France -
Joel L’Her (CETMEF/DELCE)
- UK -
Chris Vivian (Cefas)
- Italy -
Serena Geraldini (ISPRA) |
Audience discussion |
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Key problems derived during the session and the
need for improvements/progress/actions will be discussed;
moderated by DGE representatives
Synthesis and agreement on taking the process
forward |
Conclusions
You can download here the conclusions and the
summary |
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Top
4.
The importance of sediment for biodiversity |
Chairman: Adriaan Slob, TNO, NL
Download
here the programm and introduction of this special
session. |
“Sediment forms a variety of habitats. Many aquatic
species live in the sediment. Microbial processes cause
regeneration of nutrients and important functioning of
nutrient cycles for the whole water body. Sediment
dynamics and gradients (wet-dry and fresh-salt) form
favorable conditions for a large range of biodiversity.”
This was already stated in 2004 in the SedNet booklet.
Thus for SedNet it is already clear from its origin that
sediment is of crucial importance for biodiversity.
However, so far SedNet did not attempt to further
underpin this statement with ‘facts & figures’. Such
underpinning of the importance of sediment for
biodiversity may enable more and better attention to
sediment management by policymakers and management.
Hereby we also recognise that halting of biodiversity
loss, and thus the degradation of ecosystem services,
has moved to the core of EU environmental policy making.
It is against this background that this special session
was organized. |
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Opening and welcome, outline and objectives of
this session
Adriaan Slob, TNO, NL |
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Fresh water sediments and biodiversity
Alan Covich, INTECOL President, University of
Georgia, USA |
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Estuarine sediments and biodiversity: the Venice
lagoon as example
Stefano Guerzoni and Davide Tagliapietra,
ISMAR-CNR, Italy |
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Physical and biogeochemical processes as
building blocks for maintaining sediment
biodiversity in coastal environments
Kate Spencer, Queen Mary University of London,
UK |
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Panel en audience discussion |
Conclusions
You can download here the
conclusions and the
summary |
