World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure

[1] PIANC’s mission today is to provide expert guidance and technical advice on technical, economic and environmental issues pertaining to waterborne transport infrastructure, including the fields of navigable bodies of water (waterways), such as canals and rivers, as well as ports and marinas.

[citation needed] On 25 May 1885, the first Inland Navigation Congress was held in Brussels, providing a forum for an international debate on these questions.

Working Groups are composed of international experts that are tasked to prepare technical reports and guidelines in the fields of the waterborne navigation infrastructure design, construction and management.

The Commissions and ExCom are also involved in the organization of congresses and events at an international level, the recognition of awards to the excellences in the fields of interest.

Chairperson: (...-current) Mr Philippe Rigo (BE) The Environmental Commission (EnviCom) is responsible for dealing with broad and very specific environmental issues of interest to PIANC and representing PIANC in the international organisations dealing with these issues such as the London Convention, OSPAR, WODA and the EU.

It is further recognised that the site-specific environmental impacts of inland navigation or maritime activities are partnered and/or dealt with respectively by InCom and MarCom.

EnviCom is networking with other navigation related interests and has communications with non-traditional groups dealing with environmental affairs and training needs.

RecCom is composed by experts coming from all the continents and manages working groups that develop the technical reports and guidelines.