Witteveen+Bos News 19

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If adequate precautions are not taken, one third of Jakarta will be flooded in approximately 25 years’ time.

On average the Indonesian capital is sinking by some 7.5 centimetres per year, while sea levels continue to rise and precipitation continues to increase. Over 20 million people are living in a city at risk. In 2015 Dutch photographer Cynthia Boll travelled to Jakarta to depict the situation.

to devote more attention to the problem. She followed four residents of North Jakarta for one year, and recorded their lives and surroundings in text, photographs and film. The images show people coping with flooding, a home that is sinking, and the cost of drinking water in a city that is about to drown.

The urgency of protecting Jakarta against flooding becomes abundantly clear.

After having spent some time in the city, Boll was surprised by local residents’ lack of awareness of the impending danger.

She therefore initiated a project called ‘The People Behind the Seawall’, also known as ‘Utarakan Jakarta - Speak Up (North) Jakarta’ in Bahasa Indonesia. Daily updates on the progress are available on www.thepeoplebehindtheseawall.com.

Boll exhibited in the Erasmus House, the Dutch Cultural Centre in Jakarta, earlier this year. Witteveen+Bos appreciates Boll’s commitment to giving local residents a face and a voice, and to raising awareness of the dangers.­The company therefore supports Boll’s project in order for it to continue for a longer period of time. Also, the exhibition earlier this year was made possible.

Boll operates independently: she wants to raise awareness and encourage local residents and government authorities

+ communications@witteveenbos.com

Making Xai-Xai more resilient Scoping study for master plan for Mozambican city

The development of downtown Xai-Xai - a city on the coast of southern Mozambique - is complicated by flood risks, the risk of inundation of lowerlying areas, and ever-increasing traffic congestion in the centre of town.

The existing infrastructure is no longer capable of providing the basic services of sanitation, sewage, clean air, and disease prevention. There is the constant risk that the city could be flooded again with large material and human losses, and loss of economic and administrative momentum.

The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO.nl) has commissioned a consortium consisting of Witteveen+Bos and PMC (Policy, Management and Communications) to carry out a scoping study for a master plan for Xai-Xai, a city situated on the mouth of the river Limpopo in Mozambique. Witteveen+Bos will be the leading partner in the consortium. The scoping study team will examine all the relevant documents and available data relating to the 10-year strategy plan for Xai-Xai. The basic idea for a possible solution currently consists of river training works, a new road and bridge, and the construction of a polder. The team will also take into account several other ongoing and future projects that have an impact on the master plan, as well as the priorities and projects of Mozambique’s climate change adaptation strategy. Individual interviews will be conducted with local stakeholders and a workshop will be organised in Xai-Xai to discuss the geographical and conceptual (policy) limits of the master plan. + polite.laboyrie@witteveenbos.com

Pictures: Cynthia Boll

People behind the seawall

Developing a healthy city amidst urbanisation and climate change

In times of population growth, providing healthy environments for citizens is one of the challenges faced

by Singapore and other metropolitan cities. The Healthy City concept focuses on enhancing factors that determine health. The concept, developed by OKRA Landscape Architects, Witteveen+Bos and ZJA Zwarts & Jansma Architects, was received with great enthusiasm by Singaporean authorities. It can be applied worldwide, with Singapore serving as a global model.

The population of Singapore is estimated to grow from 5.5 million today to 6.9 million by 2030. This increase will lead to greater land scarcity, higher demand for transport and resources (water, energy, food), as well as increased waste production and higher emissions.

The Healthy City concept focuses on enhancing factors that determine health. Examples of these factors include air quality, noise pollution, safety, inspiration, happiness, an active lifestyle and so on.

The improvements suggested in the Healthy City concept have to be executed within an existing complex urban environment.

This requires surgical interventions in the dense urban environment, as well as an integrated approach to (re)development.

The essence of the Healthy City concept is to harness the opportunities of utilising underground spaces to create a healthy above-ground urban environment. Urban functions and sources that have a negative impact on urban health are relocated underground, while above-ground spaces are redeveloped to create a healthier living environment.

Underground motorways, for instance, improve air quality, decrease noise pollution, create new space above ground for recreational and residential purposes, and re-connect parts of cities that were previously separated by these motorways.

The concept was recently received with great enthusiasm by Singapore’s Urban Development Authority, Land Transport Authority, Centre for Liveable Cities, and the Building and Construction Authority. Additional related training courses and projects are planned for 2016. The Dutch organisations are also investigating the psychological aspects of living, working, commuting and finding one’s way underground, as well as solutions for utilising natural daylight in underground spaces. + jair.smits@witteveenbos.com

Restoration of fish channels

Feasibility study and assessment of dredging works The region of Atyrau in Kazakhstan is an important breeding ground for sturgeon and a key area for associated commercial fishing activities. Following a period of retreating water levels in the Caspian Sea in the mid-twentieth century, fish channels were constructed as a diversion to the Ural River in order to improve conditions for fish migration, and to increase sturgeon stocks in particular.

Witteveen+Bos is involved in the feasibility study for rehabilitation of the Yaitsk fish channels, and provides expert input for assessment of the dredging works.

The fish channels were constructed in the 1960s during a period of retreating water levels in the Caspian Sea. The gentler river slopes south of Atyrau resulted in a lower water depth due to sedimentation problems. This jeopardised the functions of the Ural River as a fairway and fish migration route. The Ural River south of Atyrau was canalised into a fairway, and fish channels were constructed to ensure that sturgeon could continue to use the river as a migration route. Since these construction works were completed, limited maintenance

Witteveen+Bos News June 2016

dredging works only commenced in the late 1990s.

Mature sturgeon migrate in autumn to hibernate in the river upstream of Atyrau. After spawning in spring, they migrate downstream to the Caspian Sea with their young fish.

The current average water depth is 1.2 metres, whereas 2.5 metres is required to achieve sufficiently calm hydraulic conditions that are favourable to fish migration and hibernation. Witteveen+Bos prepared a provisional design for the channel profile, and compared the available dredging methods for the 24-kilometre-long channel in order to assess the time and cost impact.

It is estimated that about 500,000 m3 of silty sand needs to be removed by means of spot dredging and from the bars at the ends of the downstream channel.

Dredging works are impeded by the narrow channel width and the shorter dredging season because of the cold winters and restrictions on dredging during fish migration periods. + arjan.de.heer@witteveenbos.com

Picture: Zwarts & Jansma Architects

Singapore as a global model of a ‘Healthy City’

ANNUAL REPORT 2015 The Witteveen+Bos Annual Report for 2015 was published recently. For the first time we have combined our Annual Report and Corporate Responsibility Report into a single publication, providing an integrated overview of our financial and non-financial performance.

The digital edition can be viewed online at www.witteveenbos.com. There you can also request a hard-copy version.

Good results in 2015 Stable growth contributes to attainment of UN’s Sustainable Development Goals

+ communications@witteveenbos.com

Engineering: people’s work Annual Report 2015

MAPPING OUR CO2 FOOTPRINT Reducing the environmental impact of our operations is a Key Performance Indicator for Witteveen+Bos, in addition to delivering social value and developing top talent.

We seek to achieve this aim by promoting sustainable business travel and reducing our CO2 emissions throughout the supply chain. Our ambition is to cut back our CO2 emissions by 30 % by 2020 compared to the reference year 2007. The CO2 footprint is a half-yearly overview of our CO2 emissions. In 2015 Witteveen+Bos realised a reduction of 23 % compared to the reference year 2007.

Total emissions amounted to 4,315 tonnes of CO2, with a global workforce of 985 FTEs. CO2 emissions per FTE decreased from 5.72 tonnes in 2007 to 4.38 tonnes in 2015. + communications@witteveenbos.com

LEVEL 5 CERTIFICATION CO2 PERFORMANCE LADDER In November 2015, Witteveen+Bos once again achieved Level 5 on the so-called CO2 Performance Ladder of the Dutch Foundation for Climate-Friendly Procurement and Business (SKAO), including BTR certification specifically for railway infrastructure. By obtaining certification, Witteveen+Bos has demonstrated its ability to realise CO2 emissions reduction for its clients by including low-carbon variants in its designs and advice. + communications@witteveenbos.com

Witteveen+Bos can look back on a successful year.

In 2015 we worked on interesting projects of all sizes throughout the world. Our revenue increased from 119 million euros in 2014 to 130 million euros in 2015. The workforce also grew: the company welcomed its one thousandth employee in mid-2015, and the total number of employees amounted to 1,056 at the end of the year.

The Netherlands is and will remain our ‘home base’, providing a strong and stable foundation. However, international markets currently offer the most promising opportunities for growth. In 2015 our revenue from international projects increased to 50 million euros. The company further expanded its worldwide presence by opening offices in London (UK) and Accra (Ghana). The growth in revenue and the expansion of the workforce were accompanied by healthy financial results. With an EBITDA of 21.3 million euros, a net result of 14.3 million euros and a net profit margin of 11.1 %, we more than achieved our targets for 2015 (workforce and revenue growth of 3 to 5 % and a net profit margin of 8 %).

Netherlands also add value to society: they help prevent flooding due to climate change. We look forward to sharing the current and future impact of our work with society in 2016.

‘Witteveen+Bos is celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2016, on several occassions’, says Karin Sluis.

The annual General Meeting of Shareholders was held on 5 April 2016. The shareholders - who are all employees of Witteveen+Bos - appointed a Supervisory Board for the first time in the company’s history. Thanks to the company’s continued organic growth, Witteveen+Bos now qualifies as a ‘large company’ requiring closer external supervision. The Supervisory Board consists of Gerard van de Aast, Inca van Uuden, and Hans van der Ven. The annual results for 2015 were also officially adopted at the General Meeting of Shareholders. + communications@witteveenbos.com

Managing Director Karin Sluis is pleased with Witteveen+Bos’ performance: ‘These solid results enable us to do our real job: contributing to the achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals through our projects. The SDGs are aimed at ensuring a socially, ecologically and economically sustainable world by 2030. As an international engineering and consultancy firm, we are both willing and able to contribute our expertise to their attainment. In 2016 we want to further strengthen our contribution to a healthy planet. Our work as engineers truly has an impact on the world.’

Director Henk Nieboer adds: ‘Through our projects, we contribute to goals like clean water and sanitary facilities for all, safe and sustainable cities, sustainable production and consumption, and the protection of ecosystems and biodiversity. Where possible, we apply our six sustainable design principles in our projects. In 2016 we want to implement these principles on a wider scale, for instance by producing nature-based and climate-proof designs with due attention to human and animal welfare. The materiality analysis we performed in 2015 showed that we can achieve the greatest impact through our projects.’

Notable projects that Witteveen+Bos worked on in 2015 include the Oosterweel Link, a large infrastructure project aimed at closing Antwerp’s ring road. The construction of tunnels will make the city easier to reach and improve the human environment: traffic jams will decrease, air quality will be improved, and noise nuisance will be reduced. The various ‘Room for the River’ projects to which we contributed in the

Witteveen+Bos News June 2016

Revitalisation of Markermeer Lake Witteveen+Bos experts in ecology and hydraulic engineering are contributing to the realisation of the Marker Wadden project, commissioned by the Dutch Society for Nature Conservation (Natuurmonumenten) and the Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management (Rijkswaterstaat). The project is aimed at creating an archipelago of ‘nature islands’ that will enhance the ecological quality of the Markermeer, a shallow lake in the central Netherlands created when the Zuiderzee inland sea was closed off from the North Sea. Various recreational facilities will also be provided to ensure that human visitors feel welcome as well.

Markermeer Lake is currently in poor ecological condition. The damming of the Zuiderzee and the construction of hard shores around the lake have led to a significant decrease in hydrological and morphological dynamics and a lack of natural marsh and shore zones. Erosion of the clay lakebed has produced high levels of silt in the water column, resulting in virtually permanent turbidity. Water plants have little opportunity to establish themselves, and habitat diversity and

Picture: Vista

Work on ‘bird paradise’ Marker Wadden has begun

food availability for birds are very limited. The Marker Wadden project aims to turn the area into a paradise for birds that also provides room for recreation. A consortium consisting of Boskalis, Witteveen+Bos, Arcadis and Vista produced the winning design for the project’s first phase, which involves creating an archipelago of artificial islands and underwater landscapes as envisaged by Natuurmonumenten. Advantage will be taken of the lake’s natural dynamics (e.g. currents and wind) in accordance with the ‘Building with Nature’ principle.

Work on the first phase is already in full swing. A protective edge is being constructed and the first artificial islands will soon emerge above water level. This will be followed by a phase of ecological development, which will be carefully monitored and controlled from the outset to encourage the creation of reed marshes, the most important preferred type of natural environment in the Marker Wadden project. + marcel.klinge@witteveenbos.com

Award for innovative engineering solution Low-tech, high-concept: mangrove as coastal defence

The mangrove project, located northeast of Semarang, Java, was recently recognised with a Dutch annual award for innovative engineering solutions (‘Vernufteling’).

Originally there was a mangrove greenbelt along the coast that served as a coastal defence, since the roots of the trees trap the sediment. However, many trees were cut when the local community needed more fish ponds to expand aquaculture operations. This resulted in coastal erosion, with the coast moving inland by several kilometres at some locations.

A Dutch consortium consisting of Witteveen+Bos, Deltares, Ecoshape, Wetlands International, Wageningen University & Research Centre and Imares developed an ingenious

Witteveen+Bos News June 2016

solution in accordance with the ‘Building with Nature’ principle: permeable dams of bamboo poles and brushwood fill. This solution enhances coastal resilience for local residents by preventing further coastal flooding and erosion. Along the most heavily eroded sections of the Demak coastline, the programme is building permeable dams to attenuate the waves and trap the sediment. This brings the massive coastal erosion to a halt and promotes the natural regrowth of the mangrove greenbelt.

dams, but also provides residents with a long-term perspective for sustainable economic development through sustainable aquaculture.

The mangrove forest should take over the role of the dams and attenuate the waves and keep the sediment in place.

In addition, coastal protection by mangrove greenbelts will restore the ecological value of the area. This ‘Building with Nature’ project not only involves the construction of permeable

The local population is closely involved in the construction and maintenance of the dams and aquaculture ponds. The potential for replication is considerable, since many mangrove areas in Indonesia and the rest of the world are threatened by logging and coastal erosion.

Scan the QR code for a short video about the project.

+ tom.wilms@witteveenbos.com

COASTAL SAFETY IN BELGIUM The Flemish Agency for Maritime and Coastal Services has asked Witteveen+Bos to assess the safety of all dunes and dikes along the coast of Flanders (the Dutch-speaking northern portion of Belgium). Belgium has a coastline of just 67 kilometres which consists of a series of seaports, seaside resorts, and valuable nature areas. The safety assessment will show if the coast is capable of withstanding a hypothetical storm of a severity that occurs once in a thousand years. Witteveen+Bos and partners Deltares and Delft University of Technology will apply an innovative assessment method that makes use of the recently developed XBeach and Swash models. + daniel.dusseljee@witteveenbos.com

WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT IN MALI The existing WWTP in Mali’s capital Bamako treats 5,000 m3 of wastewater per day. The wastewater originates from over 50 businesses in a wide range of sectors, including the textile industry. The existing plant was taken into operation in 2011 in order to reduce pollution of the Niger River. Unfortunately, the plant is not functioning properly and is producing odour nuisance. Witteveen+Bos is providing advice to remedy the situation. Government authorities and local businesses and residents are closely involved in the planning process. + jochem.schut@witteveenbos.com

ENISSA SUCCESSFULLY APPLIED IN COPENHAGEN Three neighbouring industrial sites located in the Copenhagen area were suspected to be contaminated with benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) and chlorinated solvents. The client required a fast and cost-effective sampling strategy to determine whether these contaminants were indeed present. A High-Resolution Site Characterisation (HRSC) approach was applied to develop a detailed conceptual site model. Over 400 soil gas samples were collected, analysed using EnISSA’s field-based GCMS technology, and incorporated into a model in order to identify the ‘hot spots’ or source zones. The results were used to identify sampling locations for detailed horizontal and vertical delineation using the Membrane Interface Probe (MIP) and Hydraulic Profiling Tool (HPT). This sensitive, compound-specific in-situ method was able to deliver a complete characterisation of the contamination and soil hydrogeology of the three sites in only five weeks. EnISSA (Enhanced In-Site Soil Analysis) was developed by the Belgian firm MAVA AES, which joined the Witteveen+Bos Group in 2015. EnISSA’s fast in-situ method is capable of characterising source and plume zones, enhancing the conceptual site model while reducing sampling costs and time required. + info@EnISSA.com

Creating safe public berths

Modernisation of mooring buoys and hawser posts The Port of Rotterdam Authority has commissioned Witteveen+Bos to provide contract management services for the modernisation of mooring buoys and hawser posts in the Waalhaven and Botlek port areas. The modernisation is part of a larger Rotterdam Port Authority project aimed at replacing or upgrading the buoys in the port and industrial complex. This involves replacing the buoys with newer models or with posts. The capacity of a number of berthing areas will also be increased (in terms of vessel length, number of waiting berths, and transshipment facilities).

The subproject in the Waalhaven and Botlek port areas is aimed at creating safe public berths that facilitate vessel-to-vessel transshipment, among other things. For this purpose various berth configurations will need to be modified or replaced to increase the capacity and improve the safety of the mooring facilities.

The Port of Rotterdam Authority plans to further modernise the existing port area and use it as intensively as possible. This is a matter of necessity: in 2015 the Port of Rotterdam recorded a record 4.9 % annual growth in transshipment volume to 466.4 million tonnes. This increase is mainly attributable to the transshipment of crude oil and oil products. These products are usually supplied by larger vessels, which will be able to moor easily and safely in the Caland Canal thanks to the modernisation project. In addition to crude oil and oil products, chemicals and dry bulk cargo also account for a large share in the volume of goods transshipped in the Botlek and Waalhaven port areas.

Witteveen+Bos was also involved in previous subprojects, including contract preparation and management for the berths along the Caland Canal. The experiences gained and successes achieved in these subprojects (technical expertise and implemented contract management philosophy) will now be applied in the Waalhaven and Botlek port areas. The modernisation project is scheduled for completion in December 2016. + rob.rijnen@witteveenbos.com

INLAND WATERWAY SHIPPING PROJECT A consortium consisting of Maritime & Transport Business Solutions (MTBS), PT BITA Enarcon Engineering, and lead contractor Witteveen+Bos Indonesia was commissioned to study the feasibility of an inland shipping route between the industrial area in the Cikarang/Bekasi region and the Port of Tanjung Priok. The contract was awarded by PT Pengembang Pelabuhan Indonesia. The route will be a vital link in the local transport chain. In Indonesia, inland waterway shipping has never been developed at this scale before, making the project unique.

DESIGN CYCLING INFRASTRUCTURE The Highland Council wants to turn Inverness into the green capital of Scotland. Witteveen+Bos UK has been commissioned to help the Council win GBP 7 million funding to deliver active travel infrastructures and supporting educational and informational measures to encourage more walking and cycling.

Dutch and UK experts from Witteveen+Bos are providing engineering and smarter travel planning expertise, including a design guide, pre-feasibility concept designs and a behaviour change strategy. The commission includes providing design support and training to the client’s in-house engineers. To start things off and gain familiarity with the city we organised and ran a successful two-day participatory design and ‘smarter-travel’ workshop attended by Council employees. + richard.lewis@witteveenbos.com

The study will focus on the financial and technical feasibility of transporting goods between the industrial yards in the Cikarang/Bekasi region and the Port of Tanjung Priok via the existing Cikarang Bekasi Laut (CBL) Canal. It will examine whether the construction and exploitation of a new inland shipping terminal and the use of inland vessels and flatboats will be a cost-efficient and practical alternative for road and rail transport in the Cikarang/Bekasi region.

The project will involve the development of a 200 hectares inland shipping terminal near the Cikarang industrial zone along the CBL Canal, including its access routes and hinterland connections. In addition, the study will explore the options for making the existing 25 kilometres CBL Canal - which also plays a crucial role in draining off excess water from the Cikarang river during flooding periods - suitable for container transport between the Port of Tanjung Priok and the new CBL terminal.

The financial analysis will include an economic substantiation as well as an inventory of any subsidy arrangements. The feasibility study, including an assessment of the planning and a phasing plan for each project stage, is to be performed at short notice. + roberto.zanetti@witteveenbos.com

Witteveen+Bos News June 2016

SMART energy transition tool Identifying the most effective and efficient investments in renewable energy The transition to clean and renewable sources of energy is of vital importance to society. The rapid development of these renewable sources increases the complexity of the energy transition, making it more difficult to develop realistic and feasible energy transition strategies and policies. A new assessment and management support tool developed by Witteveen+Bos will help users to deal with the complexity of the energy transition and

determine the most effective strategies, policies and investments.

The tool is based on a set of ‘building blocks’ that represent the main components of the energy transition, such as solar energy, wind energy, biomass, smart grids and energy savings. These blocks contain a cluster of technologies. The solar energy building block for instance clusters over fifteen different technologies for generating energy from

the sun. Some of these technologies are already widely applied while others are at presents only available in a laboratory setting.

Information about these technologies is provided in the form of practical parameters such as Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCoE), Technological Readiness Level (TRL) and level of investment required and more.

The result is reliable control/management information with regard to usability, availability and capacity of renewable energy systems.

The information is based on scientifically sound data and enables a accurate assessment of the most cost-effective sustainable energy systems for governments and multinational companies, port authoroties and other clients. By taking the Technological Readiness Level into account, ‘no-regret’ measures can be quickly identified and disinvestments can be prevented. + koen.haans@witteveenbos.com

Sustainable reforestation

Revitalising a degraded timber concession The ITCI timber concession in East Kalimantan is a 176,000 hectares area of severely degraded terrain and vegetation. The Arsari Group acquired the timber concession seven years ago and has asked Witteveen+Bos to contribute to revitalising the degraded area. An innovative method of sustainable reforestation and biodiversity conservation will be applied. This will result in improved access to food, wood, drinking water, biofuel and electricity while simultaneously the biodiversity of the area will be preserved and even restored.

The sustainable reforestation programme includes a project aimed at developing a sustainable water supply and combined hydropower generation system from Hutan Arsari Lestari, a forest conservation area that is still in natural condition. It is intended that part of the water from the watershed inside this conservation area will be supplied to Balikpapan. This rapidly expanding city is suffering from serious drinking water shortage due to deforestation in the catchment areas of the current water supply.

Water from the Hutan Arsari Lestari area will be held in a reservoir that will be created by constructing a dam. Subsequently the water will be guided to the ITCI industrial site and then conveyed to Balikpapan. The Arsari Group invited Witteveen+Bos to develop feasible and sustainable designs for the dam, possible tunnel, a hydropower plant and a drinking water treatment and transport system.

The Indonesian Government decided to adopt this private initiative and presented it at the Paris Climate Summit in late 2015 to demonstrate how the country can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Of all the available measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reforestation of degraded forest land is by far the most effective measure. The innovative method is developed by Dr Willie Smits and is based upon many years experimentation. + raphael.van.der.velde@witteveenbos.com

Witteveen+Bos News June 2016

TRAINING FOR COCA-COLA OPERATORS Witteveen+Bos organised a succesful training course for operators of Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia (CCAI) from several treatment plants in Indonesia. The subjects covered included the microbiology of biological wastewater treatment, wastewater composition, the general concept of a wastewater treatment plant, aerobic biological treatment technology, case studies, and troubleshooting of issues.

The Witteveen+Bos office in Jakarta has carried out several projects for CCAI in the field of wastewater treatment expansion and operational support, as well as a compliance study of nine Coca-Cola treatment plants in Indonesia. CCAI is one of the top ten independent Coca-Cola bottlers in the world, and operates nine manufacturing facilities in Sumatra, Java and Bali, employing a direct workforce of over 12,000 people. + rizza.ardiyanti@witteveenbos.com

Redevelopment of Dublin Port As an island nation, the Republic of Ireland depends largely on Dublin Port for the import and export of goods.

The seaport is Ireland’s largest and most important, and is about to undergo a massive overhaul aimed at making it ‘future-proof’.

Dublin Port has outgrown its capacity. The current average water depth of 7 to 8 metres falls far short of the 15 metres required to accommodate large, modern vessels. The work

required to increase the water depth poses considerable technical and logistical challenges. Renovations have to be carried out ‘during opening hours’, that is while every square metre of the port is in use.

Dublin Port Company has commissioned Witteveen+Bos and its partner Arup Ireland to take care of the technical elaboration and contract preparations for the project. The assignment includes preparing the final designs for various quay struc-

tures, jetties, land reclamations and dredging work, as well as preparing technical contract documents and providing technical expertise during the tender phase and the performance of work.

The design and construction of the approximately 3-kilometrelong new quay wall poses a number of technical challenges, including subsoil composed of layers of hard glacial clay and ‘made ground’, and the presence of existing structures. + menno.fousert@witteveenbos.com

Rehabilitation and extension A consortium consisting of MTBS, Witteveen+Bos and Gibb Seychelles conducted studies and assessments to advise on the port facilities required to accommodate cargo and cruise passenger flows and traffic up to 2040. Seychelles Ports Authority (SPA) is the beneficiary of this project, which is being financed by the European Investment Bank (EIB).

Witteveen+Bos assessed possible rehabilitation and extension options. Plans were developed in which the existing quays were re-used in combination with a new quay extension, as well as plans that rely on entirely new waterfront structures. The repair and rehabilitation options for the existing jetty structures were assessed, as well as the related costs.

The preferred option is an entirely new 600-metre-long quay wall. This option includes a berthing line that is

shifted seaward compared to the original berthing line.

This will create an additional strip of land: a valuable expansion of the yard and port area. In addition, the entirely new quay wall will provide far greater operational flexibility than would have been possible in the case of rehabilitation of the existing quay walls. A new wall would allow heavy ship-to-shore cranes to operate along its entire length and would also enable deepdraught vessels to berth along the full length.

Witteveen+Bos prepared a preliminary design for the new quay wall for container handling. The quay wall will be suitable for operations by mobile harbour cranes as well as rail-mounted gantry cranes. Furthermore, container vessels with a draught of up to 14 metres will be accommodated. A cost estimate was prepared for each of the plans.

+ sip.meijer@witteveenbos.com

Romano Port is located 6.5 kilometres north of Dürres, Albania. Witteveen+Bos developed a master plan and a breakwater rehabilitation design for the port, which is to be expanded into a multi-purpose facility. The master plan is currently awaiting approval from the Albanian authorities.

The existing port consists of an LPG jetty protected by a breakwater. The master plan includes berths for the import of LNG and LPG and the transhipment of various dry bulk commodities (import of agricultural products and coke, export of cement and chromium). Specific attention was devoted to the safety distances of the LNG and LPG terminals in light of the limited room available for manoeuvring in the port.

Expansion of Albanian Port Master plan and breakwater rehabilitation design

The existing southern breakwater consists of rock and is in poor condition due to severe swell waves from the south-west. The rehabilitation of the breakwater has been integrated into the master plan, and includes several berths along the port side of the breakwater. The rehabilitation design for the breakwater calls for a crest increase to reduce the amount of overtopping water, and reinforcement of the seaward armour layer using singlelayer concrete interlocking elements. + coen.kuiper@witteveenbos.com

Witteveen+Bos News June 2016

Personalia NEW RESPONSIBILITIES REGIONAL MANAGERS Africa has been added to the region managed by Polite Laboyrie with effect from 1 January 2016. As Regional Manager for Africa, Europe and the Americas, Polite is responsible for project development and the offices located in those regions. Since the start of 2016, management responsibility for the Middle East region has been assigned to Wouter Bijman, who also serves as Location Head of the Dubai office.

STEWART MALIN APPOINTED MANAGER AKTAU OFFICE The Witteveen+Bos office in Aktau, Kazakhstan, has been headed by a new manager since autumn 2015. Stewart Malin - originally from Birmingham, UK - joined Witteveen+Bos in May 2015. The employees of the Aktau office mostly work on the CaTRo project and provide support services, including for the recently completed Kuryk shipyard project. Stewart is a civil engineer with an MBA in General Management and brings years of experience in consulting and contracting for civil, structural and marine engineering projects all over the world.

Column Working with impact This year is a special year for our company; it was founded 70 years ago by mr. Witteveen and mr. Bos. As leading theme for all the activities that we organise this year we have chosen: ‘working with impact’. It may seem obvious for the general public that, when working for an engineering company, one will have societal impact. For example by providing reliable water supply, flood protection or infrastructure for mobility.

The interesting thing is that for most engineers this is not so obvious. Most of us were drawn to the profession by a fascination for large projects in exotic places or by the beauty of a difficult calculation or ingenious design. This is recognisable when an engineer presents her or his design. The focus of most of these presentations is on technique, ingenious details or admirable technical solutions.

Very rarely engineers realise that it is not the ingenuity, but the societal impact that interests the society at large. Even in my position I have to regularly pinch myself to be reminded of this fact.

I was therefore encouraged very much by the fact that I was recently invited to chair the symposium of the Young Hydraulic Engineers society at the Technical University of Delft on ‘empowerment of communities through participation and education’. The main theme was the impact our projects have on communities.

It is heart warming to see that a new generation of engineers prepares itself in this way to be ‘working with impact’!

+ communications@witteveenbos.com

Viking Link interconnector Linking Danish and UK power grids Witteveen+Bos has been asked by its Danish SEEN partner NIRAS and multinational consulting firm Intertek to provide support in the licensing and Environmental Impact Assessment procedure for a new subsea electricity cable link that will connect Revsingin in Denmark to Bicker Fen in the United Kingdom. This so-called Viking Link interconnector will link the UK and Danish power grids.

Viking Link will consist of a set of subsea and underground cables connecting high-voltage substations in both countries, allowing electricity to be transported in both directions. The cables will run along the seabed in offshore territory belonging to Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK, with all the legal complications that entails. Intertek and NIRAS were commissioned by Energinet.dk (Denmark) and National Grid (UK) to provide marine consultancy services. Witteveen+Bos has been asked

to provide assistance in the licencing and Environmental Impact Assessment procedure for the Dutch section of the cable route, and to contribute specific knowledge on the Dutch seabed for routing purposes. Viking Link will enable Danish producers to export their electricity (including a large share of ‘green’ electricity) to the UK, where electricity prices are generally higher. This will also allow Denmark to import electricity from the UK, thus contributing to the security of supply in Denmark.

The project is regarded as an important step towards integration of the European electricity market, a key precondition for the effective transition to a more sustainable energy supply.

The cable will be approximately 650 kilometres in length with a capacity of 1400 MW, and will be able to supply electricity to some 1.6 million households. The interconnector is scheduled for completion in 2022. + jan.muntinga@witteveenbos.com

+ henk.nieboer@witteveenbos.com

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Volume 19, June 2016