Activities

Dredging and land reclamation is laying the foundations of future prosperity

Civilisation was born on the banks of large rivers, such as the Nile, the Euphrates, the Tigris, the Indus or the Yantse-Kiang. Protection against flooding and creating deep access to maritime sea routes was the basic requirement for creating prosperity. In the course of many centuries, hydraulic engineering, dredging technology and land reclamation have emerged as means for creating water-bound prosperity and economic development.

Today, half of the six billion people on our planet may live in cities. But more than ever building, maintaining and expanding our waterways is a prerequisite for safety and commerce. More than 60 percent of the world’s population lives less than 100 kilometres from open water. Of the world’s 19 mega cities - those with over ten million inhabitants - 13 are built in coastal zones. Water is both a threat and an opportunity to mankind.

The expected growth of world population to 8-10 billion people in 2050 will create enormous challenges for transporting people and goods in a safe, economic and environmentally acceptable way. Waterborne transport will grow and hence infrastructure must be adapted. The pressures of overpopulation, the growth of industry and the need for protection of the environment will further push people to contain the rivers and conquer land from the sea.

This is DEME Group’s core business: keeping the sea lanes open, improving access to open water, reclaiming land for the benefit of economic activity, and containing floods to secure men and goods.

In short: dredging and land reclamation is laying the foundations of future prosperity.

Companies

Dredging International		Baggerwerken Decloedt