News

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."

Today, Wednesday 14 November, a collaboration agreement was 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.

Modification 3 of the Municipal Port Police Regulation, the Port Instructions and related forms come into force on the 12th of November 2018.

The SAFIR consortium, a group of 13 public and private organisations, has been selected by Single European Sky ATM Research Joint Undertaking (SESAR JU) to demonstrate integrated Drone Traffic Management for a broad range of drone operations in Belgium.

Throughput continues to register growth in the Port of Antwerp. After record semi-annual figures, the total throughput after nine months stands at 177,026,550 tonnes – a sharp 6% increase compared with the same period last year. With these results, the port seems to be on track for the sixth record year in a row. The recent wave of investments moreover confirms the port’s appeal and reaffirms its role as a world player.

The port of tomorrow is a smart port with a leading role for innovation and digitization. The chainPORT hackathon was held from 11 to 13 October for the first time simultaneously in the ports of Antwerp and Los Angeles.