During the 18th Meeting held on 8th October 1984 in Brussels, the PIANC Council decided that the mandate of the Commission for the Study of Locks, Dry Docks and Shiplifts be given to a new commission. In matters concerning Dry Docks the new commission would function within the framework of the Permanent Technical Committee No. II and the date fixed for the receipt of the report on Dry Docks was to be not later than the end of 1987.
It was proposed in June 1985 that Mr G.P. Martin, Senior Partner of T.F. Burns & Partners, Consulting Engineers in the United Kingdom, should be appointed General Reporter on the subject of Dry Docks. The proposal was duly ratified by the Permanent International Commission.
