News

In 2018 the Port of Antwerp experienced a whole series of highlights. In this video we look back at the best moments of the past year.

At the end of 2018 the Port of Antwerp will say goodbye to Marc Van Peel as port alderman and chairman of the board of directors. Here we take a brief look back at his period in office.

Is hydrogen the fuel of the future? The CMB shipping group firmly believes that it is. Its Hydroville hydrogen-powered passenger shuttle has carried off the second Port of Antwerp sustainability award.

The second Sustainability Award presented by the port of Antwerp has gone to the shipping group Compagnie Maritime Belge (CMB).

Barge is traditionally viewed as a sustainable, environment-friendly mode of transport. But under the pressure of ever-stricter emission standards the Belgian barge fleet too must become even more environment-friendly. To help achieve this, eco-consultant Paul Lambrechts will advise the barge industry over a period of three years. The project is an initiative by Antwerp Port Authority, Kenniscentrum Binnenvaart Vlaanderen (Flanders barge industry knowledge centre) and Vlaamse Waterweg (waterway operator).

Port of Antwerp is working on a digital representation of the port area. The Antwerp Port Information & Control Assistant (APICA) forms the brain of the application, while a 3D interface with real-time information is its face. This strategic project forms part of the Port of Antwerp digitisation and innovation policy.

A collaboration agreement has been signed in the port of Antwerp between on the one hand Antwerp Port Authority and its consultancy and investment subsidiary Port of Antwerp International (PAI) and on the other Enabel, the Belgian development agency. The aim of the agreement is to combine forces with a view to further sustainable development for ports in developing countries.

More good news for the Antwerp chemicals hub. The German company Covestro is to invest over 300 million euros in its Antwerp site, for construction of a new aniline production plant. This will generate new jobs and further establish the company's presence in Antwerp.

ICT magazine Data News has named Erwin Verstraelen, Chief Digital, Information & Innovation Officer (CDIIO) of Antwerp Port Authority, as CIO of the year. He has won this award thanks to his clear strategic vision and ambition for digitising the port. "Port of Antwerp has set a new course, with digital transformation being an important part of it. Innovation and digitisation are levers for sustainably maintaining and further developing the competitiveness of our port in the long term," declared Erwin Verstraelen. "Port of Antwerp aims to help companies in the port embrace digital innovation."