As the leading French port for container traffic, has undergone recent and considerable expansion to increase its cargo handling capacity, with some 60% of all containers in the country being managed from its port terminals. This expansion will see a rise in maritime transport, which will further impact on inland navigation.
With expectations of significantly increased brown water transport in the near future, has established an inland navigation program to enlarge the entire canal link between and the north of . This project will allow a connection for high capacity barges from and the Benelux to .
Techmar has appointed Lieven Merckx, an experienced surveyor from its office to manage the operation. A licensed officer engineer, Lieven trained at the nautical high school in . He has 20 years experience of working in ship engine rooms and with shore based industry, two of which were in the , before starting work as marine surveyor for BMT Techmar. While working for BMT Techmar, Lieven undertook specialist “surveyor witness” training in where he learned to produce court witness reports. Additionally he has undertaken training with sister company, BMT De Beer in to experience the consultancy services offered for P&I cargo related matters.
BMT is an international design, engineering and risk management consultancy, working principally in the defense, energy and environment, marine risk and insurance, maritime transport, and ports and logistics sectors.