The 4th World Conference on Floating Solutions was successfully held

The 4th International Conference on Floating Solutions (WCFS 2024) was held at The Jockey Club Innovation Tower of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) from 2 to 4 December 2024. The Research Institute for Land and Space (RILS) was the key co-organizer, together with Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development (RISUD), Research Institute for Future Food (RiFOOD) of PolyU and Society of Floating Solutions (Singapore). WCFS 2024 was sponsored by The Construction Innovation and Technology Fund (CITF) with support from Hong Kong Government’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD), Drainage Services Department (DSD), and Marine Department, along with The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers - Structural Division. Prof. Xiao Lin ZHAO, Associate Director of RILS and Chair Professor of CEE, chaired the conference successfully.

WCFS 2024 attracted more than 220 participants from 18 countries. It brought international experts and leaders together to disseminate recent research and developments in floating solutions. The theme of WCFS 2024 was "Floating solutions for sustainable ocean development and blue economy". It is crucial to develop sustainable floating structure technology in Hong Kong to create innovative and resilient means to foster our city’s sustainable growth and enhance its livability with strategic significance not just for Hong Kong but also for other coastal megacities, addressing the mounting threat of sea level rises and overpopulation.  

The conference was opened by Prof. Jin-Guang TENG, President of PolyU. The welcome session also featured a few esteemed speakers including Ir. Hon Harry MA, Deputy Director of CEDD, Mr. Mickey LAI, Director of AFCD, Dr. Stefan HUEBNER, President of the Society of Floating Solutions (Singapore), Mr. Maurits TER KUILE, Consul General of the Netherlands to Hong Kong and Macau. Prof. Christopher CHAO, Vice President (Research and Innovation) of PolyU, and Prof. Qingyan CHEN, Director of PAIR, also attended the Opening Ceremony. Prof. Xiaoli DING, Director of RILS, chaired the first keynote plenary session where presentations were delivered by Prof. Torgeir MOAN from The Norwegian University of Science and Technology on Lifecycle Integrity Management of Floating Systems and by Mr. Jacky WU, Head of Sustainable Lantau Office, CEDD, on Opportunities and Potential Use of Floating Structures in Kau Yi Chau Artificial Islands Development. Another two keynote speakers were Prof. Chien-Ming WANG from The University of Queensland, Australia and Prof. Masashi KASHIWAGI from Hyundai Engineering & Construction, South Korea. In addition, 110 papers were presented at the conference together with two industry sessions featuring seven companies from The Netherlands. Best student paper awards were given to three students.

WCFS 2024 concluded with a technical tour to AFCD Floating Fish Farm at Tung Lung Chau and Sustainable Lantau Office - Tung Chung Community Liaison Centre (CLC).