London to Host Forum on Early Contractor Involvement (UK)

An interactive forum and networking event for project owners, financiers, insurers, contractors, construction lawyers, regulators, government agencies and NGOs, advisors to decision makers in the maritime infrastructure construction industry.

This two-day forum with the theme Partnering Creates Possibilities will bring together top-level experts and advisors responsible for construction projects for an in-depth exchange of knowledge.

Keynote speakers include Dean Kashiwagi, Ph.D., P.E., Professor, Director, Performance Based Studies Research Group (PBSRG), Del E. Webb School of Construction/School, USA and Peter Lundhus, Technical Director, Fehmernbaelt, Denmark.

Project owners, including Stephen Bradford, Chief Executive Officer of Port of Melbourne Corporation (PoMC), Australia and Richard Nunn, Principle Civil Engineer, Flood and Coastal Risk Technical Manager, Environment Agency, UK, will describe the success of ECI with relation to their projects.

Participants will explore the benefits of “contractual partnering” – that is, a co-operation amongst all the contractual players from the very early stages of project development. Early Contractor Involvement can help identify risks and responsibilities and obstacles to co-operation, as well as possible methods to deal with, eliminate or minimize them. The aim of the conference is to explore the practical and legal possibilities of utilising better and more intelligently the resources associated with “the early involvement of contractors” in order to bring benefits to society in the form of faster and more cost-effective solutions.

By examining four successful recent projects from different parts of the world, this free-spirited event aims to disseminate existing knowledge and to stimulate new, creative ideas for achieving solutions for Best for the Project (win-win).

A hypothetical case study will challenge the participating professionals to think out of the box and confront their own doubts and preconceptions. Whilst the event’s primary focus will be maritime infrastructure construction projects, experience and lessons learned in other industries will also be sought.

The Forum on Early Contractor Involvement is organised by CEDA and IADC, and is supported by CIRIA. The target audience comprises, but is not limited to, experts involved in maritime infrastructure projects: project principles/project owners (both experienced and less experienced), development agencies; dredging contractors; consulting engineers; construction lawyers and legal counsels; project financiers; and decision makers and their advisors.

About CEDA

The Central Dredging Association (CEDA) is an international professional membership organisation for all those involved in dredging related activities and who live or work in Europe, Africa, or the Middle East. CEDA provides an independent forum for the exchange of knowledge in fields related to dredging, maritime construction and dredged material management. Members are drawn from many fields and include consultants, research and educational institutes, port authorities, government agencies, dredging contractors, builders of dredging vessels, and suppliers of ancillary equipment. CEDA encompasses a wide range of disciplines and activities and does not represent the interests of any particular industry sector. (www.dredging.org)

About IADC

IADC stands for “International Association of Dredging Companies” and is the global umbrella organisation for contractors in the private dredging industry. As such IADC is dedicated to not only promoting the skills, integrity and reliability of its members, but also the dredging industry in general. IADC has over one hundred main and associated members. Together they represent the forefront of the dredging industry. (www.iadc-dredging.com)

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Source: ceda-iadc, April 4, 2011