DEME’s talented family of men and women are a force for responsible, sustainable development around the world. We have a distinct, special way of doing things, whether the project creates new land from the sea, keeps a vital waterway open or restores a contaminated site for re-use.

Operating in a sustainable perspective means minimal impact on the natural environment and minimal intrusion into the life of local communities whilst the project is under way. Moreover, at DEME sustainability is intimately linked to innovation.
Innovative ideas that contribute to a sustainable way of operating are found in a variety of departments:

Ship design and ship building aim at ever increasing efficiency. Compared to say 30 years ago, today’s vessels need 40 % less fuel for an identical job – meaning that emissions are also reduced by 40 percent. Hydrodynamics of the vessel, efficiency of pumps and engines, and automation are a permanent concern.

The flagship CSD “d’Artagnan” has been given a greener footprint as fittings were improved and lubricants use cleaner technology. In particular, the use of seawater for lubrication has saved tonnes of grease per week that used to be lost in the marine environment.

Better tuning up of ship engines has reduced NOX emissions beyond what is legally required.

Our newest fallpipe vessel, the “Flintstone”, which will be commissioned in 2011, will boast an Environmental Protection (EP) label. On a voluntary basis, environmental parameters will be superior to what is legally required. In particular, the presence of oil in discharged contaminated water will be 5 parts per million (ppm) instead of 15 ppm which is still the common standard.

For all company cars within the Group, a new car policy was introduced. Only cars with a maximum emission of 175 mg (the so-called category D) qualify. The new policy has been very strictly implemented.

All fuel tanks on Benelux sites have been systematically listed and checked. DEME is currently negotiating for developing a fuel tank to its own standards. It is expected to introduce this new fuel tank worldwide on all sites.

Our smoking policy has been rewritten, guaranteeing all staff a smoking-free environment.

Our offshore subsidiary Tideway received the Occupational Health and Safety (OHSAS) certificate, a management assessment system which will be extended to other companies in our Group. In the same field of QHSE, 66 executive staff followed a five-day training for level 3 prevention advisor. An introduction and welcome module for newcomers was substantially updated; QHSE coordinators have been appointed for supervising local Quality managers; an updated version of the ‘New Green File’ QHSE policy sets standards that can be enforced worldwide; and a global QHSE action plan along five major themes has been written for the period 2009-2014.

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is an element of sustainable activity. We care for the environment, and we feel responsible for the community in which we are operating. In Nigeria’s Niger delta region, we initiated a free medical care programme for the Alase-Ama community in Borikiri.The programme which was set up together with Family Care Association, an NGO, offered free medical care including dental and eye treatment, as well as nutritional education to some 600 locals. Some 364 pairs of glasses were distributed to 382 patients at eye consultancies.

As part of our commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), DEME company Dredging International has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the local community of Colima, a village near the town of Manzanillo in Mexico, for a substantial financial contribution for the construction of a local primary school.

Development of the newest version of the Artificial Intelligence Automatic Cutter Controller, and retrofit of this system on TSHD ‘Al Mahaar’. Through continuous development of new control algorithms production is optimised, thereby reducing cost/m³ as well as required power/m³ of dredged soil.

Development and implementation of fully automated control of the Water Injection Plough on board of ‘Parakeet’. This further optimisation of the system will increase environmentally friendly operations aboard the new Water Injection Dredger currently under construction for our Indian daughter company ISD.

Installation of a latest generation Dynamic Positioning/Dynamic tracking system on TSHD ‘Pearl River”, ensuring highest possible accuracy in dredging.

Continuous research with regard to the trailing and loading process of our trailers, resulting in new and integrated control strategies for dredge pump, jet pump, suction tube position and active draghead.

Supporting the EC 20-20-20 programme (20% green energy and 20% reduction CO2 in 2020) for amongst others energy savings and improved efficiency, our company participates in several programmes for a more rational use of energy. As such, we turned down thermostats in the frame of a ‘warm jumper’ day, a highly symbolic action supported by the Flemish government, and we regularly disseminate energy saving tips, both for the work floor and at home.

At our Soils Recycling Centre in Kallo, near Antwerp, we upgrade our 600 kW wind turbine to 2 MW and by September 2009 a big battery of solar cell panels will be installed on the roof of our workshops. The 2000 m² 50 kW peak output will compensate for a new airco system in a headquarters extension building, supporting the claim that as from now DEME ‘is cooling with solar energy.’