Introduction by Boskalis CEO Peter Berdowski.
Dear reader,
The abundance of water in the Netherlands is not only central to our business, but it is also interwoven in our society. Olympic champion Maarten van der Weijden accomplished a heroic achievement last summer which had an enormous public impact in the Netherlands in an attempt to swim 200 kilometers to raise money for cancer research. The route along the renown Elfstedentocht long distance ice skating route was lined by thousands of people cheering him on. Not only did Maarten’s swim break new ground, he also raised 5 million euros! His inspiring story is all about setting new boundaries and creating new horizons.
In this edition of HORIZONS, we also consider the challenges our industry faces to reduce carbon emissions. By setting up the ‘Boskalis on Bio’ program, we have established the first global market for advanced marine biofuels and we reflect upon the tremendous potential this has to make a crucial contribution to reduce emissions.
Teamwork, perseverance and skill were some of the ingredients that contributed to the recent salvage of an ultra large container vessel. As the size of vessels continues to grow, so do the challenges to save a vessel and its cargo when a devastating fire strikes mid-ocean. Beside the salvage operation itself, liaising with stakeholders is often equally complex and critical to make a difference for our client.
I hope you enjoy reading our magazine. Let’s create new horizons together!
Peter Berdowski
CEO Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V.
