Posted on October 26, 2026
Innovation, safety, and collaboration were on full display at the WEDA Pacific Chapter Annual Meeting this week in Newport Beach.
This year’s meeting brought together professionals from across the maritime, navigation, engineering, environmental, regulatory, and dredging communities to explore the projects and innovations shaping the future of the West Coast.
From major port infrastructure investments and navigation improvements to offshore wind readiness, advanced hydrographic surveying, beneficial reuse, and data-driven dredging strategies, the conversations highlighted how our industry continues to evolve to support resilient coastlines, efficient waterways, and a growing blue economy.
A recurring theme throughout the conference was finding smarter ways to manage sediment, maintain navigation channels, improve infrastructure performance, and create environmental and community benefits through innovative project delivery and collaboration.
Safety was also front and center, with discussions emphasizing workforce engagement, training, accountability, and the importance of building strong safety cultures across every project.
One of the week’s highlights was the Women of WEDA Paint & Sip, which brought together women from across the industry for an evening of networking, mentorship, and connection. A special thank you to the Women of WEDA community for creating such a welcoming space and for demonstrating the power of women supporting women.
The conference also invested in the future of our industry through the Dredging 101 and 201 short courses; a student networking event, helping connect emerging professionals with industry leaders and opportunities across the maritime sector and an exceptional field trip onboard the Wild Goose (for those that don’t know – that was John Wayne’s yacht 🛥️) for an afternoon of networking along Newport Beach harbour where attendees were lucky enough to see some dredging up close!
What makes WEDA special is the diversity of perspectives in the room. From ports and public agencies to contractors, consultants, researchers, technology providers, and students, attendees came together to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and advance best practices for the benefit of the entire industry.
Thank you to our speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, volunteers, and attendees for making this year’s meeting such a success. The conversations throughout the week reinforced that the West Coast continues to lead the way in innovation, safety, sustainability, and collaboration.
We look forward to continuing the conversation throughout the year and seeing every next year in Seattle, October 26-28, 2027!
