Dubai to host key international meet on coastal and port engineering in 2008

The 7th International Conference on Coastal and Port Engineering in Developing Countries (COPEDEC), scheduled to be held during 24-28 February 2008 at InterContinental Hotel in Dubai Festival City, will also enable the developing countries to have a sustainable human resource pool of coastal and port development and marine environment professionals.

This was announced by Essa Al Maidour, Assistant Director General of Dubai Municipality for General Projects Affairs and Chairman of the Local Organising Committee of COPEDEC, in a press conference at the civic body's headquarters which was also attended by Khalid Mohammed Al Zahed, Director of Maritime Transport Department at Roads and Transport Authority and vice-chairman of the committee.

The event, which will attract nearly 1000 professionals, is organised in cooperation with the Brussels-based International Navigation Association (PIANC), which is a non-profit organisation that merged with COPEDEC to promote the maintenance and operation of inland and maritime navigation. The Municipality would bear the cost of some 100 professionals attending the conference from various third world countries.

Mr. Al Maidour expressed hope that the seventh edition of the conference would be a major boost to international coastal and port engineers and scientists and provide them an opportunity to showcase coastal projects in their countries and building capacity in countries in transition in this important field of engineering.

He added that marine engineers and scientists from the Arabian Gulf, and particularly Dubai, could also benefit from this significant event especially as the emirate enjoys a 70-km busy coastline, which includes a number of open beaches and large sea-ports.

"The event, which is regarded as the first of its kind in the Middle East, is highly significant as half of the world's population live within 60 kilometers of coastal regions. For the Gulf region in general and Dubai in particular, the event's significance is far more noticeable at a time when massive development projects are being undertaken along coastal areas. The total cost of the coastal projects in the Gulf region alone is estimated at US$100 billion," Al Maidour said.

PIANC, founded in 1885 is the oldest international association concerned with the technical aspects of navigation and it has nearly 3500 members who include private individuals, corporations and national governments from 80 countries including 22 national sections overseeing regional activities. This includes several membership organizations in the Arab world.

The COPEDEC was established as a complementary forum to the "International Conference on Coastal Engineering" (ICCE). The previous conferences were held in Colombo, Sri Lanka (1983), Mombassa, Kenya (1987), Beijing, China (1991), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (1995), Cape Town, South Africa (1999), and Colombo, Sri Lanka (2003).

Khalid Al Zahid said the overall theme for COPEDEC VII is "Best Practices in the Coastal Environment" and will discuss topics like coastal and port infrastructure engineering, ports and marina management and planning, development of sea frontage and coastal stabilization, monitoring of beach movement, coastal areas and environment management, coastal areas risks management and short-distance ship cargo and marine navigation.

An International panel of world renowned marine scientists will review submitted technical papers to ensure those selected display scientific excellence and appropriateness to the conference themes. It is expected that several papers relevant to the ambitious marine activities in Dubai will be presented.

Mr Al Maidour noted that the organising committee has signed an agreement with Seatrade Middle East, a company of vast expertise in this field, to organize the event. It has recently launched a dedicated website for the event (http://www.pianc-copedecdubai.com) which comprises all relevant information about the event including background information, destination and venue, main sponsors, future sponsorship prospects, submission of abstracts, exhibition, special events and other relevant information.