Artist impression of the Gyeong-in Ara Waterway.
The Gyeong-in Ara Waterway is 18 kilometers long and has a width of 80 meters. The Waterway will connect South Korea's capital city Seoul to the coastal city of Incheon and the West Sea. The project is one of the largest water-related projects in South-Korea and is expected to see its opening in September 2011.
K-water, responsible for the Waterway, and DHV will cooperate for the next five years and will share knowledge and expertise for this prestigious project. Among other things the Waterway requires locks at its entrance near Incheon to cope with a possible 8 meters spring tide difference.
The MOU was signed by Mr. Kim, Jong-Hae, executive director of K-water's Gyeong-in Ara Waterway Business Division and by Mr. Wim Klomp, project director Ports, Waterways and Coastal Development, from DHV on 28 April 2010.
The signing took place during the Dutch Economic Mission to South Korea and was attended by Dutch Prime Minister Mr. Jan Peter Balkenende, the Dutch Ambassador in Seoul Mr Hans Heinsbroek, and the Chairman of the Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers Mr. Bernard Wientjes.
DHV will employ its knowledge and experience in planning, design and construction supervision, gained in large water-related projects such as Nakdong Barrier near Busan (South-Korea), the storm surge barrier of St. Petersburg (Russia) and the expansion of the Panama Locks.
The Gyeong-in Ara Waterway is part of the "New Deal" of the South-Korean government, to create more jobs and to enable economic growth. The Waterway enables flood control for parts of Seoul area and improves the Korean logistics between Incheon and Seoul. It will also boost the area development alongside the Waterway as well as the tourist activities.
DHV is a leading international consultancy and engineering firm, providing services and innovative solutions in Transportation, Water, Building & Industry, Urban and Regional Development, and Environment & Sustainability. Our range of services covers the entire project cycle, including management consultancy, advice, design and engineering, project management, contract management and asset management. DHV, headquartered in the Netherlands, is part of the DHV Group which maintains a network of 75 offices worldwide. Our projects are able to call upon the extensive expertise network of the entire DHV Group, benefiting from an integrated approach and a shared commitment to the sustainable development of our living environment. The DHV Group has a staff of 5,500 and its net turnover in 2009 was € 481 million. For further information please visit www.dhv.com .
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