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PEOPLE AND TRENDS MARINA PONTI 22 | 3.2021 T·TIME W W W.T R E L L E B O R G . C O M
Side 23
PEOPLE & TRENDS ANDREW THOMAS W W W.T R E L L E B O R G . C O M Toward more sustainable waterways There are plenty of challenges facing the world’s waterborne transport infrastructure, but New York-based ports and maritime consultant Andrew Thomas, also sees lots of innovative solutions b eing proposed. TEXT DANIEL DASEY PHOTOS PONTUS HÖÖK T he Earth’s oceans, canals, ports, marinas and rivers form perhaps the most critical piece of transport infrastructure on the planet. By providing commercial transport corridors between conti- nents and nations, our waterways facilitate the vast bulk of interna- tional trade. Keeping waterborne transport corridors and ports running efficiently, safely and sus- tainably, is vital for both today’s economy and the planet’s future. It’s a challenge that has occupied much of the working life of Andrew Thomas, a New York-based ports and maritime consultant. Thomas is a Regional Maritime Lead for global engineering and architectural services company HDR, and his daily work revolves around ports and maritime asset management. He recently completed a four- year term with PIANC, the World Organization for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure. As a member of PIANC’s executive com- mittee, Thomas was involved in the organization’s core business of providing the global waterborne transport community with expert guidance, recommendations and technical advice. With such a deep involvement in maritime matters, Thomas under- stands better than most the evolv- ing trends and challenges facing the planet’s waterborne transport infrastructure. “At HDR, we help T·TIME 3.2021 | 23
