PIANC USA

09/30/2026

Call for Submissions: PIANC Working with Nature Award

Do you know of an innovative navigation infrastructure project that puts sustainability and the environment at the forefront?

PIANC’s Working with Nature initiative recognizes environmentally ambitious navigation infrastructure projects that demonstrate a proactive, integrated approach to sustainable development.

Eligible projects may receive a Working with Nature Certificate of Recognition, and all recognized projects will also be considered for the Working with Nature Award presented at the PIANC World Congress in Antwerp in June 2028.

🇺🇸 PIANC USA has a history of success! In 2024, PIANC USA member Calvin Creech received the Working with Nature Award for the Madeira River Navigation Improvement Planning Study – Nature-Based Solutions for Improving Navigation Reliability on the Madeira River, Brazil.

We would love to see more U.S. projects recognized. If you are involved in—or know of—a project that may qualify, we encourage you to submit an application or share this opportunity with your colleagues.

👉 Learn more and apply: https://www.pianc.org/award/working-with-nature-award/

Please share and help us spread the word throughout the U.S. navigation community!

09/23/2026

Now Accepting Abstracts for Smart Rivers 2027!

Smart Rivers 2027 is the must-attend inland navigation infrastructure conference. To be held June 14-18, 2027 and hosted by PIANC Indonesia, this international event brings together engineers, policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders to explore the future of inland waterborne transportation. Dive into emerging trends, system modernization, and infrastructure improvements designed to advance the inland waterways that power global trade and regional economies.

The conference is biennial and last hosted by PIANC USA in Memphis, Tennessee in September 2025 with approximately 400 attendees sharing their broad inland waterways navigation and infrastructure expertise from around the world.

You have until December 1, 2027 to submit an abstract for presentation.

https://smartrivers2027indonesia.com/abstracts/

07/23/2026

📢 Call for Experts: EnviCom Working Group 274

PIANC USA is seeking qualified experts to serve as U.S. representatives on Environmental Commission Working Group 274, “A Practical Guide for Applying Thin Layer Placement Approaches for Sustainable Water Transport Infrastructure.”

We are looking for professionals with expertise in ecology, biology, coastal and wetland engineering, sediment management, environmental regulation and permitting, port and waterway operations, dredging, geotechnical engineering, or related fields.

This is an excellent opportunity to collaborate with international experts and help develop practical guidance for using thin layer placement as a sustainable dredged material management solution.

📅 Application deadline: August 15

Learn more and apply: https://pianc.us/wg-vacancies/

Please share this opportunity with qualified colleagues!

07/15/2026

How can marinas be designed today to adapt to the demands of tomorrow?

Join PIANC USA for the third webinar in our 2026 series:

Adaptive Marina Infrastructure: Planning for Growth, Regulation, and Resilience

📅 Wednesday, October 28, 2026
🕑 2:00–3:00 p.m. EDT
🎟️ No cost to attend
📜 1 PDH credit available

Marina infrastructure must be able to evolve with changing operational, environmental, social, regulatory, and technological demands.

Presented in cooperation with the PIANC Recreation Commission, this webinar will explore updates from PIANC Working Group 149 – Guidelines for Marina Design, including adaptive approaches to marina planning and design and changes in marina management structures.

Designed for marina planners, designers, engineers, technicians, and other professionals involved in recreational navigation and waterfront infrastructure.

Register today: https://pianc.us/event/webinar-adaptive-marina-infrastructure-planning-for-growth-regulation-and-resilience/

07/07/2026

The PIANC USA Newsletter is Now Available!

We have lots of PIANC USA updates to share in the July 2026 newsletter, "The Vessel." The PIANC vice president for the America's, Dr. Calvin Creech, highlights the remarkable growth, strong partnerships, expanded technical collaboration, and an increasingly connected community of navigation professionals in South and Central America. Our PIANC USA secretary, Dr. Will Logan, caught us up on the PIANC annual general assembly in Hull, UK and, of course, we keep you up-to-date on International and U.S. activities, including the 2026 webinar series! The July newsletter may be found at https://pianc.us/news-and-events/newsletter/

06/15/2026

PIANC USA is pleased to announce that the 2025 Annual Report is now available: https://pianc.us/pianc-usa-2025-annual-report/

In addition to a message from PIANC USA Secretary William Logan, the report highlights PIANC USA leadership, commissioners, and representatives serving on PIANC headquarters commissions in Brussels, Belgium. It also showcases the contributions of approximately 100 PIANC USA members who actively participate in international working groups focused on inland navigation, maritime navigation, environmental sustainability, and recreation.

The report also reflects on the tremendous success of Smart Rivers 2025, the internationally recognized conference hosted by the U.S. National Section. PIANC USA proudly recognizes Commissioner Dr. Sandra Knight, who served as Conference Chair, along with the distinguished members of the organizing committee whose dedication made the event possible.

Smart Rivers 2025 welcomed more than 350 participants and featured 180 presentations, 39 technical sessions, 4 plenary sessions, and 3 short courses, providing a valuable forum for knowledge sharing and collaboration across the global waterways community.

We invite you to explore the report and learn more about PIANC USA's accomplishments and contributions throughout 2025.

06/03/2026

PIANC is excited to announce the formation of four new working groups, and we’re looking for passionate and knowledgeable experts to join us! These groups will delve into critical aspects of waterborne transport, developing cutting-edge technical guidance that will shape the future of our industry.

This is a unique opportunity to contribute your expertise, collaborate with international professionals, and make a tangible impact on key challenges facing inland waterways.

We invite you to consider applying for one of the following working groups:

WG 270: Strategies to Prevent Negative Effects of External Threats in IW Infrastructure and Facilities: This group will gather experiences and develop strategies to mitigate the negative impacts of external threats, such as vandalism and misuse, on vital inland waterway infrastructure.

WG 271: IW Guidelines for Navigation Availability Assessment: Join this group to help develop comprehensive guidelines for assessing and enhancing the availability and reliability of inland waterway infrastructure, with a particular focus on navigation locks.

WG 272: Decarbonisation of the Inland Navigation Fleet: This working group will conduct a worldwide review of technologies for decarbonizing inland navigation vessels, evaluate real-world case studies, and identify the economic, technical, and regulatory conditions needed to accelerate their adoption.

WG 273: Optimised Maintenance Dredging Volumes in Inland Waterways: This group will create a framework to enhance and optimize the methods for estimating maintenance dredging volumes across various types of inland waterways, including rivers and canals.

Deadline for applications is June 22nd.

To learn more about each working group and to submit your application, please visit our dedicated page: https://pianc.us/wg-vacancies/

Your expertise and active participation are invaluable to the success of these initiatives and to PIANC’s mission to provide leadership in the waterborne transport infrastructure sector.

05/18/2026

Representatives from the U.S. Section of PIANC (PIANC USA) participated in the annual international assembly of the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure, hosted this year by the U.K. Section in Kingston upon Hull, England, May 13–15, 2026.

The U.S. delegation joined water transportation infrastructure professionals from around the world to address PIANC business matters, exchange technical knowledge, and review presentations focused on engineering, planning, and policy related to ports, inland waterways, and navigation infrastructure.

PIANC is internationally recognized for developing technical guidance, best practices, and standards for the waterborne transportation sector. Additional information and publications are available at PIANC.org.

Kingston upon Hull, commonly known as Hull, is a historic port city in East Yorkshire located where the River Hull meets the Humber Estuary.

05/12/2026

PASSIONATE ABOUT WATER TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE AND NAVIGATION? INTERESTED IN NETWORKING WITH GLOBAL NAVIGATION LEADERS AND CONTRIBUTING TO WORLD STANDARDS AND PRACTICES? VIEW THIS PIANC OVERVIEW AND CONSIDER JOINING!

PIANC US is pleased to share a short video on advantages of PIANC US membership. As the leading mode for international freight, maritime transportation handles over 40% of the total of U.S. goods; impacting our nation’s economy at almost $3 trillion per year. The development of high-quality and sustainable water infrastructure for all waterborne industries (maritime trade/defense/cruising/recreation) fosters the necessary confidence to attract investment in production, operations, and distribution systems. PIANC is where the world’s waterborne transportation infrastructure experts commune and your membership:

• Connects you with world leaders and experts in maritime transportation infrastructure;
• Enhances your expertise through the opportunity to develop world-class technical reports and guides;
• Supports your development and career goals as a young professional with free membership to students and through corporate memberships including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers;
• Provides free access to ground-breaking technical publications.

PIANC US is pleased to share a short video on advantages of PIANC US membership. As the leading mode for international freight, maritime transportation handl...

04/20/2026

PIANC USA WEBINAR: Design of Navigation Locks – Overview of the State-of-the-Practice

Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 2:00—3:00 p.m. EDT

No cost to attend, 1 PDH Credit

John Clarkson, PE, Chair of WG 206, Navigation Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ret.) and Eric Johnson, PE, SE, Navigation Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Inland Navigation Design Center will cover Design of Navigation Locks from INCOM Working Group 206. The planning and design of a navigation lock is a complex, iterative process that involves multiple disciplines, significant time, and many trade-offs. The goal is a safe, economical project that meets the needs of owners, users, and stakeholders. Prior to this new report, much of the published planning and design information was over 30 years old and outdated as newer and more efficient practices have evolved. This webinar will provide an overview of all the facets of lock design including planning, engineering, construction, maintenance, and rehabilitation. Participants will learn how to utilize this new state-of-the-practice report that is a must-have resource to efficiently design, construct, and operate a navigation lock.

Please register at https://pianc.us/registration-form-for-24-june-2026-webinar