PIANC USA Delegation Attends International Navigation Seminar in China

ALEXANDRIA, VA – June 16, 2008. A delegation of PIANC USA members attended the Annual General Assembly and International Navigation Seminar May 25-30, 2008, in Beijing, Peoples Republic of China. The Honorable John Paul Woodley, Jr., Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works), Major General Don T. Riley, Director of Civil Works, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Anne Cann and David Grier of IWR were members of the delegation.

Mr. Woodley, Chairman of PIANC USA, presented the U.S. Section Annual Report as well as a technical paper (coauthored with Anne Cann) at the Navigation Seminar entitled, “Balancing Inland Navigation with Flood Control and Environmental Needs in the U.S.” David Grier presented a paper entitled “U.S. Harbor Improvements: Are they Critical to Trade with China?”

A technical tour of the Three Gorges locks (5 stepped locks in each direction that elevate ships 113 meters) and dam and the Yangtze River up to Chongqing followed the conference. This controversial reservoir project has provided flood control and hydropower to central China as well as enabling year-round navigation from Shanghai to Chongqing (a city of 30 million people).

China is developing the Yangtze River on a massive scale and at an unprecedented pace. Officials see modernization of the Yangtze as the key to opening up the western interior of China, eliminating poverty and helping to close the economic gap between the coast and the interior of the country. For centuries the Yangtze has been the most important east-west transport artery, and today it is larger than any other river in the world in terms of cargo carried. The PIANC delegation observed heavy traffic on the Yangtze, including coal, containers, and ro/ro trucks.

More about PIANC and PIANC USA

PIANC (the International Navigation Association) is a global organization providing guidance for sustainable waterborne transport infrastructure for ports and waterways. PIANC provides a forum where professionals around the world join forces to provide expert advice on cost-effective, reliable, and sustainable infrastructure to facilitate the growth of waterborne transport. Established in 1885, PIANC continues to be the leading provide expert guidance and technical advice on navigation issues.

The United States became a member of PIANC by Act of Congress in 1902 and participates in PIANC through the U.S. Section. The Chairman of the U.S. Section is the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. The Director of Civil Works for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers serves as President. The Section is managed by a National Commission of eleven individuals from both private industry and the Federal Government.

U.S. Section members, including government organizations, the private sector, and individuals, work together with other nations to address a broad range of policy, engineering, and environmental issues for the advancement of waterborne transportation.

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