The biggest event in the global dredger calendar, World Dredging Congresses are organised once every three years by WODA, the World Organisation of Dredging Associations, which is composed of three regional sister though independent professional not for profit associations. They are the Western Dredging Association (WEDA) serving the Americas, the Central Dredging Association (CEDA) serving Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, and the Eastern Dredging Association (EADA) serving the Asian and Pacific region.

WODCON XX will showcase around 120 technical presentations by experts from all over the world. The technical sessions will run from Tuesday 4 June to Thursday 6 June in three parallel tracks. The Technical Papers committee has selected the most vivid abstracts to build the technical programme around seven main topics, which include:

• Alluvial and Deep Sea Mining
• Environmental Issues
• Management and Economics
• Management of Sediments
• Methods, Equipment & Techniques
• Regulatory Issues

Themed ‘The Art of Dredging’, all papers have been peer reviewed and published in the congress proceedings.

Complementing the technical discussions will be a dredging exhibition, which allows leading companies from around the world to demonstrate their latest products and services. The exhibition area doubles as the space for refreshment breaks and is thus a busy area for networking and doing business.

A programme of technical visits is planned for the last Congress day. Delegates may choose from a boat trip down the Scheldt to learn how the Sigma Plan has evolved from a flood protection scheme into a blueprint aimed at ensuring safety, nature and accessibility along the river; a visit to the AMORAS silt dewatering and storage plant in Antwerp; and an inspection of what will be the world’s largest lock at the Deurganck dock, also in Antwerp.

For delegate partners there is an appealing programme of outings, taking in architecture, surrealism and chocolate. The first trip is to the beautiful old town of Bruges, once a centre for the lace-making industry, and now best known for its cobbled streets and picturesque canals.

Young CEDA will pick the best place in town where the young among the congress delegates can share a drink or two together right after the Welcome Reception in the Town Hall on Tuesday evening. This provides an excellent opportunity for young deleagtes to broaden their professional network.

A wider social schedule includes Monday evening’s ice-breaker cocktail, a welcome reception in the 15^th century Town Hall and a Gala Dinner at Autoworld, which traces the history of the motor car from horse-drawn carriage to electric urban vehicles. To round off WODCON XX, there’s a post-congress tour to Dunkerque, France where one of the most memorable events in wartime history was played out on the beaches on Saturday 8 June.

For further information visit: www.wodcon.org or contact the congress Secretariat at

E-mail: wodcon@congrex.com; Tel. : +32 (0)2 627 0166 ; Fax : +32 (0)2 645 26 71