Industry Bodies Join Force for Ocean Economy

The World Ocean Council (WOC) and the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (PIANC) have signed an MOU on long-term cooperation.

The partnership agreement provides a commitment and framework for the two bodies to collaborate on ocean sustainable economic development through information exchange, communications, events, joint working groups, etc. on topics of shared interest.

More specifically, PIANC and WOC will begin by working together to develop tools and methods for port and coastal infrastructure adaptation that can be scaled up to address port resiliency needs, especially regarding extreme weather events affecting Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and other developing countries.

PIANC Secretary General Geert Van Cappellen said: “The world’s ports and waterways infrastructure is essential to the Blue Economy and must be developed in ways consistent with ensuring a healthy ocean, sustainable development, and adaptation to sea-level rise and extreme weather events. We are pleased to be working with the World Ocean Council to address these challenges.”

As the world’s leading international association on port infrastructure, PIANC and its global network of experts and corporate members is a natural partner for the World Ocean Council, said Paul Holthus, WOC Founding President, and CEO .

He added: "The WOC, the Global Blue Economy Business Organization, can bring leadership companies from the ocean business and investment community to engage with PIANC to tackle critical infrastructure challenges in the context of sustainable development.”

PIANC – The World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure – is the leading international association on ports and waterways infrastructure, comprising a network of 2,100 individual members and 450 corporate members from 75 countries.