'Let's give hydraulic engineers a powerful voice'

Andrea Vollebregt and Caroline Nagtegaal pursue a common goal

They know each other from the Port of Rotterdam and both have a fondness for everything on the water. Roads may split, but eventually you meet again. We sit down with Andrea Vollebregt, director of the Dutch Association of Hydraulic Engineers and Caroline Nagtegaal - van Doorn, member of the European Parliament (People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) | Renew Europe (RE) Committee on Transport & Tourism (TRAN) | Committee on Economic & Monetary Affairs (ECON).

The focus of the conversation is on the overall visibility of hydraulic engineers. There is room for improvement, is the unanimous opinion.

Ensuring connection

"Most parties in the transport sector know how to find Brussels by now. Inland navigation, however, as well as hydraulic engineers and maritime shipping, could use help to make themselves visible," Caroline says. "That's where I see a rewarding task for me. I actively approach them to give them a voice in Brussels." Andrea nods and says, "Hydraulic engineers are still too little observed. But precisely in light of climate change, the replacement task of wet infrastructure and the great need for well-trained personnel, it is necessary to be visible and show what added value the sector has. We are working hard on this in the Association of Hydraulic Engineers. The association and the member companies are investing a lot in things like social media, media campaigns and education. For example, to get young people enthusiastic about this beautiful profession and to show what hydraulic engineers can contribute to a future-proof life in the Dutch delta. For this we also depend on workable laws and regulations at national and European level. "

It's all about connection. Caroline: "We are asking where we can help the maritime and inland waterways and hydraulic engineers. I want to get them more clearly in Europe's sights, so that they are seen and the government will pay attention to them, not only financially, but on all fronts. In a points plan, I involve inland navigation, hydraulic engineering, ports, but also local governments, port terminals and industry associations.

The question I ask is, 'Where can Europe help to make the greening shift?' We need to think about facilitating new clean fuels, about digitalization, human resources and training, if we are going to be the preferred transport sector. The sector desperately needs support in this."

Going for emission reduction

"Operating 100% emission-free in the short term is a pipe dream," Caroline continued. "What we can do is reduce emissions as much as possible; there are already plenty of resources for that. Let's use the transition fuels that are out there. Let's electrify where we can and where internal combustion engines are still needed, let's choose cleaner fuels." Andrea: "We have done research on the domestic marine fleet, which provides insight into the opportunities for achieving cleaner and zero-emission equipment in the atypical marine fleet. Different solutions will be needed to operate sustainably. Indeed, the fleet consists of a wide variety of vessels; from suction dredgers, pile driving vessels, crane vessels, workboats, floating equipment and smaller equipment. All with different sizes and power demands and different opportunities for sustainability. The conclusions: we are in a transition and need to make choices based on the longevity of the fleet. Invest now in existing sustainable options that may not be permissible in the future? Or wait longer and then invest immediately in the latest options and more emission reduction? We also need to work on sufficient capacity of renewable fuels and, by extension, sufficient infrastructure. The timely adaptation of laws and regulations should also not be lacking. All issues that Caroline can take with her to Brussels. Finally, our member companies also especially need investment perspective. Government and clients must realize that this transition will cost money. They can make the difference here by drawing up appropriate subsidies and by making sustainability a significant factor in tenders and valuing it accordingly.  

"It's important to take the first steps," Caroline said. "High investment costs can be a deterrent, but if the government lends a hand to cover the unprofitable top, it can start flying at some point once the market embraces it. And we need front-runners to lead by example. Those examples I get under my arm and take to Brussels. There I lovingly show how hard the sector is working and what risks they are taking to go green. I show that there are also great economic opportunities in greening."

'We need mobile power supplies'

Finally, we talk about the possibilities of getting power to places where the grid no longer comes. "We need mobile and floating power supplies for electrification. We shouldn't just focus on cabinets on the wharf," Caroline says. "Only then can there be proper electrification in hydraulic engineering. And for both hydraulic engineering and inland navigation: there may be more shore power points. I think a great example is the 'Skoonbox' in Amsterdam. A container battery that provides enough power to power seagoing vessels. Moreover, it is loaded with green electricity. Floating power supply, is also really one of the solutions."

Andrea: "Mobile power supply or mobile bunkering of hydrogen are interesting options for hydraulic engineering and are part of a sustainable infrastructure. There is still some way to go, but the beacons are well set. I am convinced that innovations and technological developments will follow each other in quick succession in the coming years. If we continue to work together to make inland navigation and hydraulic engineering visible, we will soon be an integral part of the government portfolio. We help think of transition paths for all types of ships and equipment, in order to offer perspective to the sector. It's a big difference whether you have to look at how to apply a generic solution to a vessel that wasn't built for it, or can apply a custom solution designed for your type of vessel."

Finally, Caroline says, "The idyllic image of inland navigation with the cozy sight of a freighter, with a car on it, a clothesline with children's clothes, a dog on the quarterdeck and a mom and dad in the cabin - that needs to be brought into the limelight better as far as I'm concerned. In hydraulic engineering, you see that dredging boat in front of you, in the middle of the lake, you can look at it for hours. Because in both cases it is completely unknown that there is a huge economic interest behind it. We are going to make it clear what role all the elements play, pull strings, and make a rock-solid commitment to these sectors."