PIANC World Congress Planned for San Francisco

The U.S. Section of PIANC (World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure) will host the 33rd PIANC World Congress 2014 at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis in California June 1 – 5 2014.

The congress is held every four years and is not restricted to members of PIANC. This year’s conference theme “Navigating the New Millennium: Navigation Ports Waterways Environment” will include technical sessions and tours cultural tours pre-Congress workshops plenary opening reception and banquet.

The U.S. Section selected San Francisco as the location for the next Congress because of the many “navigation-related” things to see and do in the Bay area. The city of San Francisco is a bustling city with a population of 4335391 with balmy weather and average temperatures in June ranging from 12 C – 20 C. The Ports of San Francisco and Oakland are nearby and tourist attractions abound not to mention the nearby Napa Valley and Sonoma wine country.

Congress chairs include Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) the Honorable Jo-Ellen Darcy PIANC USA Chair; and John Headland Moffatt & Nichol PIANC International vice president for the Western Hemisphere.

If a committee working group or board is interested in holding a meet- ing during the conference at the conference hotel they can contact pi- anc@usace.army.mil or 703-428-9090 for available dates and times of rooms.

By attending technical sessions attendees may receive PDHs which are nationally recognized units of record in the U.S. PIANC notes that there are differences from state to state in continuing educational requirements for professional licensure. Each state registration board has the final authority to approve courses credits PDHs and other methods of earning credit in that state.