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Ingeborg Absil has been chair of PIANC Netherlands since 2023. As Director of Accessibility and Network Quality at Rijkswaterstaat, she focuses daily on the future of the main waterway network, the surrounding networks, and how knowledge, technology, and collaboration come together in practice. In this interview, she explains what PIANC is and why the network is important for the Netherlands.

“PIANC is a community focused on exchanging and further developing expertise in the broad field of navigation,” says Ingeborg. “This includes the development of shipping, waterways, ports, the question of how to make infrastructure future-proof, and many other topics.” Within this international organisation, the Netherlands is represented by PIANC Netherlands, with around 600 members from more than thirty organisations.

A network where knowledge, government and industry come together

According to Ingeborg, the strength of PIANC lies in who is at the table. “Governments, companies and knowledge institutes come together here around the same challenges. From Rijkswaterstaat to the Port of Rotterdam Authority, knowledge institutes such as TU Delft and MARIN, and private sector parties like Van Oord and IV Infra. This combination in the so-called ‘triple helix’ is essential for complex challenges, yet it does not happen automatically in practice.”

At the events and working groups organised by PIANC, a broad range of professionals meet. Think of engineers, project managers and decision-makers with a civil engineering or nautical background. “These people need each other, yet they do not easily find one another. Within PIANC, that connection is made much more easily.”

From waterways to operations

PIANC focuses on everything needed to keep waterways functioning properly, from the infrastructure itself to the systems around it. “It covers inland navigation, maritime shipping and related topics,” says Ingeborg. “So it includes waterways, ports, quays, locks, bridges, the vessels themselves, and how to ensure the entire system operates effectively.”

The topics range from design, asset management and maintenance to operations, traffic management, digitalisation and climate resilience. “Sometimes it is highly technical, such as the functioning of loading and unloading infrastructure under different weather conditions, or how currents behave in a canal and the impact this has on navigation. At other times, it concerns broader questions, such as how to keep waterways climate-resilient, how to maintain port accessibility, and the impact of ship collisions on bridges and locks.”

The strength of an international network

A major added value of PIANC is its international character. “Waterways cross national borders, and water moves through systems that do not stop at those borders,” Ingeborg explains. “That makes international collaboration both valuable and logical.”

The Netherlands has a strong contribution to make. “We are not called a water country for nothing, with a strong maritime tradition and a solid knowledge base.” At the same time, the Netherlands learns from other countries. “You see how other countries approach port development, logistics or climate-resilient waterways. We can learn from that and apply it in our own practice.”

From international working group to Dutch practice

According to Ingeborg, the working groups are the substantive engine of PIANC: “That is where it becomes concrete.” Experts from different countries collaborate on reports, guidelines and new insights, which are then shared with all members.

“At the moment, the Netherlands participates in 24 international working groups, covering topics such as climate adaptation, digital twins, remotely operated inland navigation, biodiversity and offshore wind ports,” says Ingeborg. “Looking back, the Netherlands has also contributed to around 100 completed working groups.”

PIANC Netherlands acts as the link between the international structure and Dutch members. New topics emerge within international commissions, after which members can apply to join a working group. If there are multiple candidates, the board assesses who is the best fit for the topic and the available positions.

“The great thing is that we also share the knowledge from all these reports within the community,” Ingeborg explains. “Members can log in and download newly published reports themselves. In addition, we organise an annual content session on recent reports, preferably combined with a site visit. Every two years, we organise a PIANC congress. Papers from international PIANC congresses are also shared again during events in the Netherlands.”

A network that helps you move forward

For Ingeborg, the strength of PIANC ultimately lies in the combination of knowledge sharing and connection. Members receive reports and insights, and through the network they more quickly find the right people for specific expertise. At the same time, she hopes more professionals will actively contribute. “Only consuming is not enough,” she says. “The real value comes when people also contribute their own knowledge.”

In recent years, PIANC Netherlands has worked more deliberately on visibility and renewal. A strategy has been developed, there is more focus, and communication has been organised more professionally. “You really have to offer added value for people to invest their time,” says Ingeborg. “Young PIANC also plays an important role in this, with its own activities for young professionals, often combining knowledge exchange and site visits.”

“Anyone working with waterways, ports or waterborne infrastructure is invited to get involved,” Ingeborg concludes. “There is a lot to gain and a lot to contribute. So take a look at what PIANC can mean for your work.”

More information

Ingeborg Absil
Director Accessibility and Network Quality at Rijkswaterstaat
Chair of PIANC Netherlands
LinkedIn

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