​Dr. Luis Prieto-Portar, Piedroba Consulting Group’s (PCG) CEO and Chairman lead a Webinar with over 200 Public Officials from Latin American Nations and Port Authorities, facilitating a dialogue on Marine Project Risk Management. PCG teamed up with the Organization of American States’ (OAS) Inter-American Committee on Ports (CIP) team to present the key factors in ensuring project site data is thoroughly collected, and how to produce detailed design delivery models.
 
The Webinar included PCG’s one hour presentation followed by a rich discussion where participants asked questions via the host’s chat platform. CIP’s Chief, Mr. Jorge Duran, guided the interactive session, with over 50 questions being received and addressed.
 
Piedroba Consulting Group provides risk management services throughout the Americas, specializing in representing the owner with the successful delivery of marine infrastructure projects. In this capacity PCG typically serves the cruise destination, commercial ports, financial institutions, and public sector markets.
 
The Organization of American States is the world’s oldest regional organization, dating back to the First International Conference of American States in 1889. Today, the OAS brings together all 35 Independent States of the Americas and constitutes the main political, juridical, and social governmental forum in the Hemisphere.
The OAS Inter-American Committee on Ports (CIP) is the only permanent Inter-American government forum that brings together the National Port Authorities of all OAS Member States for the promotion of the development of competitive, safe, sustainable, and inclusive ports in the Americas with the active participation of the private sector.

Together with over 300 members of the Organization of American States’ (OAS) Inter-American Committee on Ports (CIP) community PCG’s Jelle Prins and Luis Prieto y Munoz offered their insight on the status of the cruise industry. Lead by CIP’s Chief, Mr. Jorge Duran, Mr. Prieto y Munoz addressed a variety of environmental components related to the development of cruise destinations, with Mr. Prins offering a general high-level update on the status of the cruise industry amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The PCG partners talked about the possible return to sailing, likely health protocol and itinerary changes, as well as the long-term impact to the cruise lines and their guests. Mr. Prieto y Munoz who has led multiple Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) efforts throughout the Caribbean welcomed the encouraging event: “The CIP community is a strong group with a loyal following, and with all the travel restrictions and limitations it is nice to partner with CIP in organizing our stakeholders, friends, and partners during these times. I find these Webinars extremely yielding, and am thankful for all of those taking the time to share their experiences with our community.”
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Piedroba Consulting Group provides risk management services throughout the Americas, specializing in representing the owner with the successful delivery of marine infrastructure projects. In this capacity PCG typically serves the cruise destination, commercial ports, financial institutions, and public sector markets.
 
The Organization of American States is the world’s oldest regional organization, dating back to the First International Conference of American States in 1889. Today, the OAS brings together all 35 Independent States of the Americas and constitutes the main political, juridical, and social governmental forum in the Hemisphere.
The OAS Inter-American Committee on Ports (CIP) is the only permanent Inter-American government forum that brings together the National Port Authorities of all OAS Member States for the promotion of the development of competitive, safe, sustainable, and inclusive ports in the Americas with the active participation of the private sector.

The Port of Buenos Aires, Argentina and Piedroba Consulting Group (PCG), in a partnership with The Organization of American States’ (OAS) Inter-American Committee on Ports (CIP)  hosted a successful two-day Executive Dredging Seminar in Buenos Aires, Argentina this month. PCG’s Dr. Luis Prieto-Portar and Jelle Prins joined the hosts and 50 Executive Public Sector Officials in attendance for a fruitful and interactive session. The Seminar discussed the different strategies required to successfully deliver the numerous major Argentine marine infrastructure developments currently planned.
Presented in Spanish, the Seminar addressed topics such as: Successful Marine Project Delivery Strategies, Contract Strategies, Risk Mitigation, Site Investigations, Environmental Compliance, and Performance-Based Contracting, among others.

The Head of the Argentine Port Association, Mr. Gonzalo Mortola, was pleased with the event: “PCG, CIP, and those invited by the Port of Buenos Aires to participate produced a productive dialogue that is essential in preparing our nation for a quality delivery of our marine infrastructure needs. The PCG team lead by Dr. Prieto-Portar offers a wealth of experience, and we are grateful for his visit and knowledge sharing”.
Piedroba Consulting Group provides risk management services throughout the Americas, specializing in representing the owner with the successful delivery of marine infrastructure projects. In this capacity PCG typically serves the cruise destination, commercial ports, financial institutions, and public sector markets.
 
The Organization of American States is the world’s oldest regional organization, dating back to the First International Conference of American States in 1889. Today, the OAS brings together all 35 Independent States of the Americas and constitutes the main political, juridical, and social governmental forum in the Hemisphere.
The OAS Inter-American Committee on Ports (CIP) is the only permanent Inter-American government forum that brings together the National Port Authorities of all OAS Member States for the promotion of the development of competitive, safe, sustainable, and inclusive ports in the Americas with the active participation of the private sector.

Piedroba Consulting Group (PCG), in a partnership with The Organization of American States’ (OAS) Inter-American Committee on Ports (CIP) hosted a successful weeklong Executive Dredging Class in Panama last week. PCG’s staff traveled to Panama City, Panama to visit the Autoridad Maritima de Panama (APM) on April 9-13 and educate the 35 Port Officials in attendance on the different dynamics surrounding dredge project delivery.
 
The turnkey class addressed topics such as: Dredge Project Design, Contract Administration, Risk Management, Site Investigations, Environmental Compliance, and Performance-Based Contracting among others. The class included a site visit where the participants spent a full day on one of the world’s largest Cutter Suction Dredgers.

Panama’s Minister of Maritime Affairs, Mr. Jorge Barakat complemented PCG with providing an excellent educational service "The class was outstanding, and we are thankful for our partners at PCG and CIP, and for offering invaluable technical expertise that will support the maritime community in Panama with all its exciting projects.”
 
Piedroba Consulting Group provides risk management services throughout the Americas, specializing in representing the owner with the successful delivery of marine infrastructure projects. In this capacity PCG typically serves the cruise destination, commercial ports, financial institutions, and public sector markets.
 
The Organization of American States is the world’s oldest regional organization, dating back to the First International Conference of American States in 1889. Today, the OAS brings together all 35 Independent States of the Americas and constitutes the main political, juridical, and social governmental forum in the Hemisphere.
The OAS Inter-American Committee on Ports (CIP) is the only permanent Inter-American government forum that brings together the National Port Authorities of all OAS Member States for the promotion of the development of competitive, safe, sustainable, and inclusive ports in the Americas with the active participation of the private sector.

Piedroba Consulting Group's (PCG) Luis Prieto y Munoz acted as the key-note speaker at last Wednesday's Inter-American Forum of Successful Experiences in Port Development in Mexico City, Mexico. Both the Organization of American States (OAS), and the Mexican Secretary of Transport joined in partnering for the event, which sought to support sustainable management for port competitiveness.

The Challenges in Developing a Sustainable Dredging Strategy and Environmental Sustainability were the main focal points of PCG's presentation. Furthermore, PCG presented the audience with a brief history of dredging and offered perspective on why dredging projects are characterized by complexities and high risks. 

OAS and PCG have an active partnership where they jointly offer educational services throughout The Americas, offering classes with an emphasis on maritime project risk management. OAS's Inter-American Committee on Ports (CIP) and PCG have offered Pro-Bono Executive Dredging Seminars in Panama, Peru, and the Dominican Republic. Over 100 private and public sector participants have gone through PCG's classes. ​

Dr. Luis Prieto-Portar and Jelle Prins assisted the World Bank in organizing a weeklong Study Tour for a delegation of Bangladeshi Inland Waterway and Transportation Experts.  The Tour took place May 14th to 19th in Belgium and The Netherlands and was a productive week full of knowledge transfer between a variety of Dredging and Inland Waterway Experts.

During the week, a total of four presentations were given by Dr. Prieto-Portar and Mr. Prins, covering the History of Dredging and Different Types of Dredging Projects to the specifics of Dredging Procurement and Performance-Based Dredging Contracts. The diverse program also included site visits to different projects throughout Belgium and The Netherlands.
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Dr. Luis Prieto-Portar added: “Whenever you’re invited to teach and share some of your experiences with an audience that includes high level officials, like we had that week, it is humbling. The delegation we hosted was well-informed, and a delight to be around. I am hopeful that by supporting this event we have been able to make a positive impact on Inland Waterways in Bangladesh”. ​