Tianjin Dredging Congress Examines Beneficial Uses of Dredged Material
The Eastern Dredging Association (EADA) and the China Dredging Association (CHIDA) held their Third International Congress for Dredging Technology Development in China in Tinajin China on November 18 and 19 2008.
Approximately 200 delegates attended primarily from the Far East with several from Europe America and Australia/Oceania.
Countries represented included Australia Netherlands Sweden Germany USA United Kingdom Singapore Malaysia and the host country China. The delegates represented the various sectors of the port and dredging industry i.e. from government bodies port authorities dredging contractors and manufacturers of dredging equipment.
EADA was represented by its Secretary-General Capt. David Padman and Chairman John Dobson. John Marlin of the University of Illinois represented the Western Dredging Association (WEDA).
The Congress opened in the ballroom of the Holiday Inn Hotel in the Tianjin Binhai New Area by Xiao Daxuan the Deputy Director of the Department of Water Transportation Ministry of Communication Tianjin.
In his opening address Daxuan touched on the following key points:
• The Yangtze Estuary Deepwater Channel capital dredging project involved 250 million cubic meters while annual maintenance is 30 million cubic meters per year.
• The Chinese coastline region’s annual maintenance dredging volume in the navigation channels is approximately 100 million cubic meters per year.
• Dredged materials are also being widely used in reinforcement projects of rivers and lake barriers to prevent problem of flooding.
The theme for the Congress was “Beneficial Use of Dredged Material For Promoting Environmental Protection” and the papers included Flood Control Latest Development in Dredging Equipment Multi Uses of Dredged Material in the USA with Emphasis on its use as Topsoil Modern Equipment For Dredging and Reclamation Operations Training Equipment / Modules Management of Contaminated Dredged Materials.
In total there were four sessions with the topics such as Recycling Technologies for Environmental Dredged Sediments Successful Introduction and Operation of the IHC 7025 Dredge in the Chinese Dredging and Land Reclamation Market and the Experimental Study on Separation of Dredged Material Using Hydrocyclones.
Presentations were given on artificial wetlands which are being developed in several parts of China to conserve wild life.
Technical visits were carried out to the following areas:
TIANJIN BINHAI
Coastal Reclamation Project
The area reclaimed was 2270 square kilometers with a 153- kilometer-long coastline. It includes three main zones: the Tianjin Port Tianjin Economic Technological Development Area and Tianjin Port Free Trade Zone.
TIANJIN CONTAINER TERMINAL
Tianjin Port 170 kilometers from Beijing is the largest in Northern China and it is managed by the Port of Tianjin Authority. The port handles more than 230 container vessels monthly. In 2006 the port handled a throughput exceeding 5.96 million TEUs. The navigation channel is 19.5 meters deep 315 meters wide and 44 kilometers long to accommodate the 250000 mt bulk carriers calling at the port.
TIANJIN ARTIFICIAL ISLAND
The Tianjin Artificial Island comprises two phases: 13.5 square kilometers in 2007 and 20 square kilometers from 2007- 2009. Total cost for the project is USD $ 831 million. The island will consist of a new harbor logistics service center recreational and tourism facilities and also a wetlands area to accommodate sea birds.
