CSR Report 2018

MANAGING OUR IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT CSR 2018 – BOSKALIS 16 BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEMS OUR IMPACT AND MANAGEMENT APPROACH Depending on the locations and type of work, our projects can disturb, relocate or remove habitats and species. The most common and potentially significant impacts are as a result of water turbidity, habitat loss, underwater noise, the spread of invasive species and pollution from waste and effluents. We aim to avoid, reduce or mitigate such effects. Every project we work on is unique and requires us to apply project specific solutions. In most cases, our approach to environmental (and social) management is prescribed by an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA). Where an ESIA is not available, or does not meet project level environmental requirements, we follow our General Code of Business Conduct and our approach to potential adverse impact (page 63). Examples of the measures we take to help avoid or reduce the impact of our activities on biodiversity and ecosystems, are given on the opposite page. BUILDING WITH NATURE The approach we offer our clients through our Building with Nature program goes beyond compliance. Launched in 2008, it provides a design philosophy that integrates natural systems into hydraulic engineering design. Building with Nature enables us to preserve or even strengthen environmental assets and economic benefits. Ten years on, it has proven its effectiveness in nature-based flood defenses and eco-system restoration projects around the world. TAKING CARE OF NEW ZEALAND’S PRISTINE WATERS This year, our adaptive management approach enabled us to comply with stringent environmental on regarding turbidity, for the capital dredging of the entrance channel to the Port of Lyttelton in New Zealand. We supported the client from the outset of the project to help design a management plan to ensure compliance. Although it was calculated that we would remain well within the limits set, challenging local circumstances posed a real risk that we might exceed the permitted turbidity levels. Our capabilities in real-time turbidity monitoring enabled us to adapt our working methods where necessary, while achieving maximum efficiency in terms of dredging volumes. But, turbidity was not the only environmental sensitivity on this project as the potential presence of marine mammals was a concern. Therefore, we trained our bridge crew in marine mammal observation and had them record sightings to help us better understand animal behavior around our dredgers. The skillset of the team and transparency towards the client regarding our working methods meant the project was delivered successfully within the required limits.

The dynamic Building with Nature approach makes it adaptable for every setting and allows it to be used together with other risk reducing measures. The Building with Nature program is carried out by the EcoShape consortium, in whose core team we are represented. Partners in the program include academia, research initiatives, competitors, consultancies, NGOs and public authorities. COLLABORATING ON MANY LEVELS To help us stay at the forefront of environmental management we have a number of task forces in place: for example, in the areas of ballast water management and eco-engineering. These task forces are chaired by a member of the Boskalis Board of Management and include senior leadership and environmental experts who meet up on a regular basis. They collaborate with external parties such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the International Association of Dredging Contractors (IADC), the European Dredging Association (EuDA), the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) and the Dutch branch organization Vereniging van Waterbouwers . We are also involved in a number of cross-sector partnerships, through which we contribute to a diverse scope of environmental initiatives. These include our cradle-to-cradle chains for worn impellers, dredging pumps and pick points in partnership with Van Voorden, Vosta, Allard-Europe and Magotteaux. This year nearly 1000 metric tonnes of scrap material was recycled through this initiative. APPLYING THE CONCEPTS OF CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN THE PORT OF LEKKI As part of this greenfield port project in Nigeria, we constructed a 700-meter-long sandbar breakwater. The original design called for the entire breakwater to be built from rock, which would have required more than two million tons of rock, at considerable cost and with a potential environmental and social impact. In this project, we were able to review the options and propose our alternative, sustainable approach to build the breakwater using the mainly local sand, abundantly available in the area. Not only was this more cost effective, it meant a reduction in truck movements of around 80% compared to the construction of the conventional rock breakwater. This considerably cut back the potential impact on both the environment and the local community. In addition, over time, natural strengthening of the sandbar breakwater will take place as a result of normal sand transport along the coast. The sandbar breakwater is adaptable to new developments and changing environmental conditions, including those resulting from climate change.