Prof. Wim Vlasblom, memorable key person of CEDA, has passed away.
This week the family of Professor Ir. Willem Jacobus Vlasblom informed us that Wim passed away peacefully on the 8th of December. His memorial service was held on Wednesday, the 13th of December in his hometown Uitgeest, the Netherlands.
Wim was born in Rotterdam on the 31 of December 1941. After obtaining his Masters Degree Civil Engineering Wim started his professional career in the dredging industry at Costain Blankevoort Dredging Co followed by Ballast Nedam Dredging. Already from the start Wim was, next to practice, very much drawn to research and science. This made him contribute considerably to the innovations, discoveries and developments in dredging technology over many decades. From practical tendency he was the main player in the gigantic dredging project of Chek Lap Kok in Hong Kong, to mention but one. Wim was very much active in the Dutch Dredging Research Association and thus contributed to making Dredging Technology a fundamental, academic science.
In 1993 he succeeded Professor Jan de Koning as Dredging Technology Professor at the Delft University of Technology. Under his guidance many acquired a deep and effective knowledge of dredging as a Master of Science or PhD. From 2007 on Wim continued consulting the international dredging industry as emeritus professor.
From the start Wim was a prominent and active member of CEDA. He affiliated with many a CEDA “Dredging Days” conference and WODCON. He was a valuable member of CEDA Board of Directors for many years, holding the position of Treasurer.
Most of us knew Wim as a straightforward man, who was clear and sharp, but he was also sociable and committed. Wim did not care for status or ranking. Everybody was important to him in equal measure and he was always ready to reach out with a helping hand.
We part from an unforgettable giant in dredging. Let us comfort ourselves with the thought that we had the honour and pleasure, to know and work with him.
Our thoughts are with Els, his adorable wife who was also as much committed to the dredging industry community as he was, his children and grandchildren.
CEDA Board & Community