Introduction by Boskalis CEO Peter Berdowski.
Dear reader,
The world has been in the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic for months, and the consequences for Boskalis have also been far-reaching. Colleagues on our projects and vessels can only be relieved to a limited extent and many colleagues can only work from home. Developments are unpredictable but, for the time being, we have been managing to continue our activities worldwide. That is mainly thanks to the determination, creativity, commitment and flexibility of everybody at Boskalis.
Even in this turbulent period, we want to keep you informed about the backgrounds of our activities with the articles in this magazine. By doing so, we also underline the dedication and hard working of our colleagues. It is important to point out that a number of articles and the accompanying photos in this magazine were produced before the outbreak of COVID-19. So some of the content may have been placed in a different light.
The pandemic seems to have led to a decline in the worldwide focus on many other challenges facing society - including Boskalis - such as climate change and the resulting need for a transition to renewable energy. Against that background, Ad van Wijk, Professor of Future Energy Systems at Delft University of Technology, unfolds his vision of the major role that hydrogen can play in the global energy supply.
Global warming due to climate change leads to the irreversible phenomenon of sea level rise. Billions of people living in the delta regions of our world will eventually feel the impact. Dr. Aimée Slangen, sea-level change expert at the Netherlands Institute for Marine Research (NIOZ) and one of the lead authors of the forthcoming Assessment Report 6 of the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, discusses the main causes and consequences. She also describes the importance of hydraulic engineering companies such as Boskalis in the development and implementation of innovative flood protection solutions of which a number of examples are also presented in this magazine.
Since the last edition, we have again engaged in and completed numerous high-profile projects. From lifting an immense cruise ship out of the sea and the unique construction of a mega-port by means of a temporary polder in Oman to the complex installation of export cables for wind farms in the North Sea and the prevention of environmental disasters after rescuing vessels in distress. We are happy to offer you a look behind the scenes of these groundbreaking activities.
I hope you enjoy reading this issue. Let’s create new horizons together.
Stay safe and healthy!
Peter Berdowski
CEO Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V.
