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EU Water Management Study Tour REPORT VISIT US DELEGATION

22-25 October 2017, Belgium

A US delegation has visited Flanders from the 23

th until the 25

th of October 2017.

Twelve representatives from the broad water sector, including members and

consultants of cities, water utilities, port representatives and private businesses have

discussed issues on water management and coastal zone management. In the three

day program of this Water in the City Study Tour, there were networking meetings

with EUDA ( European Dredging Association) and sectoral related Flemish authorities.

Mrs. Michelle DeMoor in the middle, is a lawyer with broad legislative and

international trade policy experience. She serves as Senior Trade Advisor at the

Delegation of the European Union to the United States, advocating to the US

government on a wide range of trade policy issues

Since TTIP talks have been frozen for quite some time, the EU delegation to the US

decided not to let further cool down the negociations and defrosted temporary the

issue on water management. The EU delegation with headquarters in Washington

DC, employing 90 staff members, about 30 of whom are EU diplomats requested

FITA to co-organize a water study tour in Flanders offering insights into ongoing

water and coastal zone protection projects in Flanders. The outcome was a well-

paced working program, interspersed with guided technical visits on the spot and

discussions with experts during the culinary dinners in the evening which were also

open for Flemish private engineering companies enabling them to promote their

cutting-edge technologies, design capabilities, and unrivaled project management

expertise to port and canal development projects worldwide.

The Port House, designed by Zaha

Hadid Architects, is an architectural

masterpiece, befitting an international

port such as Antwerp. The

headquarters of the Antwerp Port

Authority is without a doubt one of the

eye-catchers of the Antwerp skyline.

EUDA is the official interface between

the European Dredging Industry and

the European Institutions. This study

tour on water management was

organized by the EU delegation to the

US with cooperation of several public

and private organizations like FITA.

Objectives of the visit were mainly to

share innovative approaches on

integrated coastal zone management,

and to exchange views and insights to

learn about strategic governance. Mr.

Paris Sansoglou, General Secretary of

the European Dredging Association (

EUDA ) has given an in-

depth presentation on the added value

of European Dredgers to waterborne

activities during a breakfast meeting.

During the first day in Belgium, the study tour participants were briefed on European

Union institutions, including the European Commission, the European Parliament,

and the Council of the EU, as well as the EU’s decision-making procedures. Senior

officials from EU institutions and Brussels-based US diplomats met the participants to

discuss current issues on the transatlantic agenda.

On the second day a guided visit to Flanders Hydraulic Research (FHR) was scheduled

whereby nautical, hydrological and sediment-related issues have been discussed with

experts like Patrik Peeters and Frank Mostaert.

Flanders Hydraulics Research took a

major step forward in terms of realistic

modelling of waves on scale models by

constructing a completely new wave

tank in accordance with the current

international standard including

a multi-directional wave paddle

Mr. Filip Boelaert welcomed the

delegation and spoke about the

Flemish Sigma Plan aiming to restore

over 3,000 hectares of natural habitats

by 2030 and using several innovative

techniques first developed in Flanders.

With the Sigma Plan, the government

of Flanders is funding a large-scale

operation to repair and protect the

environment and economy around the

Scheldt river, which runs through the

provinces of East Flanders and

Antwerp. The Flemish water sector

includes also several large engineering

firms with international project

references which were also mentioned.

Antwerp Port Ambassador Frank GEERKENS highlighted during the seminar the

important link between the petrochemical industry, the port and the region around

Antwerp

Since the Port of Antwerp plays a central role in the transfer of port knowledge from

Flanders to the world, a tailor-made seminar program was indispensable. The event

in the marvelous auditorium covered several essential aspects of sustainable

management in the port. For the representatives of Port of Antwerp, it was a warm

reunion with their Port of Houston colleagues.

The two ports have long and good relations, sharing each other's predilection for the

breakbulk sector. There are striking similarities, with each being home to a very large

petrochemical cluster.

H.E. Frank Geerkens, Antwerp Port

Ambassador gave a first impression of

the port using the large aerial photo

mosaic in the inner courtyard. Inside,

the building is also breathtaking thanks

to a fascinating line pattern on every

floor, and dazzling panoramic views.

Also Port of Corpus Christi, the 4th

busiest US port by volume, and the country’s

number 1 exporting port for crude oil, located in the southeast of Texas, was

committed in the various discussions.

As Executive Director of the Port of

Corpus Christi, Mr. John LaRue

oversees the day-to-day operations of

the Port of Corpus Christi Authority,

the fourth largest port in the United

States in tonnage and the largest

economic generator of the region.

Handling in excess of 100 million tons

annually, the port of Corpus Christi is

of the largest energy ports in the world. Executive Director of the Port of

Corpus Christi, Mr. John LaRue

Flanders is a major player in maritime services, particularly in dredging. Two of the

biggest European dredging companies are from Belgium. Dredging, however, is

covered by a US law on shipping known as the Jones Act. This means that dredging

equipment has to be owned by a US company and staffed by US citizens to operate

on the US market. This amounts to a complete shutdown of the market. TTIP might

probably not not end the Jones Act. However by hosting this water study tour FITA

aims to create awareness allowing the US to improve conditions in specific parts of

the market, like dredging for offshore wind parks or other energy-related activities.

By granting market access to Europeans, US would benefit from the best available

dredging know-how in the world. This was also largely discussed with the companies

in the sector on the occasion of the visit to Amoras.

AMORAS is an acronym for “Antwerpse Mechanische Ontwatering, Recyclage en

Applicatie van Slib” (Antwerp's Mechanical Draining, Recycling and Application of

Sludge). With this project, the Flemish government and the Municipal Port of Antwerp

are investing in a sustainable solution for storage and processing dredging sludge

from the Port of Antwerp.

.

At a meeting with Mr. Frederik Looten of De Watergroep, Commissioner Kishia Powell

(water commissioner for the City of Atlanta) stated "I am thrilled to see this

technology and I feel like a kid in a candy store. I have seven infrastructure projects

coming up and this is my shopping list."

Daniel J. Burger, Director of Coastal Services for South Carolina, after a meeting with

a water partnership commented "I did not think that these meetings would be

relevant to me, but it is so relevant. I can't wait to get back to my Department and

share what I learned." Mr. Burger is the Director of the Coastal Services Division for

the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Office of Ocean

and Coastal Resource Management (DHEC-OCRM). Since joining DHEC in 2004, Mr.

Burger has worked to advance the policy goals of the state’s Coastal Zone

Management Program through the development and implementation of innovative

program strategies, products and services. Mr. Burger leads staff performance of

inter-governmental planning, coastal hazard analysis and policy development efforts.

Colonel Mark Vincent received a cost comparison from a

European dredger that was a fraction of what US companies had

bid to dredge the Houston Channel. Mark said that he had

known of EU companies' capabilities, but the cost comparison

"was an eye opener." The company's ability to do deep sea sand

dumping was "transformative" for his port. Mark Vincent

(Colonel, U.S. Army, retired) Director of Channel Development at

Port Houston is responsible for the management of Houston

Ship Channel activities including dredging, pipelines, marine construction permits,

submerged land uses, and federal channel agreements.

TTIP

Launched in early 2013, negotiations are underway for the much-talked about

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), to integrate the world’s

largest market, the EU, and the single largest economy, the United States.

While over €2 billion worth of trade already crosses the Atlantic every day, a

comprehensive trade agreement between these two long-time strategic partners will

build upon the largely untapped potential and result in millions of euros saved for

companies which could be reinvested in growth.

The TTIP aims to improve the rules that govern trade by strengthening the rules-based

trading and promoting greater transparency. As regulations become more

compatible, the TTIP aims to create a consortium of nations that adhere to the

highest standards.

The TTIP will not only eliminate transatlantic tariffs, but other regulatory obstacles as

well. The plan is ambitious, and its potential benefits are enormous. The European

Commission has predicted that the EU could gain up to €119 billion a year and an

extra €545 of disposable income per household.

For Belgium, an independent report has indicated that a comprehensive trade

agreement could create over 4000 jobs and increase real per capita by 3.63%.

Additionally, at EU level, the chemicals sector, and the transport and logistics sector

stand to increase by 9% and 6% respectively. Given the country’s reputation as a

logistics hub, and the fact that it is home to the world’s largest chemical cluster,

second only to Houston, it is clear that the TTIP is a historic opportunity for Belgium.