Antwerp as flagship for innovations in port community

Digital innovation Innovation Port
Port of Antwerp is pioneering in the latest digital and innovation technologies, building towards a new Smart Port of the world.

Innovation flows through Antwerp’s veins. It should come as no surprise that Port of Antwerp is pioneering in the latest digital and innovation technologies, building towards a new Smart Port of the world.

In this large ecosystem, our challenge is to realise the vision of a smart port.


Michaël Geelhand de Merxem, General Manager, The Beacon

Innovations

In order to boost and facilitate innovation in the port area, The Beacon unites a mix of innovative companies, research institutions and public organisations in a new ecosystem. Here, technology companies come together with industrial partners to work on innovative solutions towards a Smart Port. Together, they work on 5G and drone technology, big data, artificial intelligence and machine vision.

Smart ports of the future need to take full advantage of combining technology with digital information. Digitalisation has become exponential. As a community we need to look beyond and drive the supply chain value creation by collaborative data sharing. Failure is no longer an option.

Johan Van Wyngene, Chief Information & Innovation Officer DP World Antwerp

In addition, it allows the port authorities to implement next gen districts such as the Churchillsite, where new forms of sustainable chemistry are developed.

This breeding ground for innovation also works as a leverage for a sustainable future. We are making the switch to sustainable chemistry, a hydrogen economy and more residual heat recovery.

Erwin Verstraelen, Chief Digital & Innovation officer, Port of Antwerp

Pioneering applications

The future is already happening at the Port of Antwerp. For over a few years, it has been implementing digital applications on the NxtPort data platform. This resulted in applications, such as Bulkchain, Qronoport and Certified Pick Up (CPU) to ensure a transparent flow of goods. Shippers, carriers, logistic partners and governments use these applications in every link of the supply chain.

We are developing a detection platform for intrusive drone traffic: unique in the world!


Piet Opstaele, Innovation Enablement Manager, Port of Antwerp

More developments that defined Antwerp’s flagship status over the last years:

  • Unmanned navigation: testing innovative technologies for unmanned and autonomous shipping with partners such as Seafar and the University of Antwerp.
  • APICA / Digital twin: an interactive, detailed 3D map of the port with real-time information regarding vessels, water status and weather. This system is being upgraded with computer vision and on-demand use of drones for inspection purposes and air quality checks.
  • Drones: tests have run for several years, now automated drones will inspect and control on the Left Bank.
  • Computervision and camera’s: to keep detailed track of container movements, to inspect port infrastructure and to monitor port traffic.

The port of the future was born yesterday.

Erwin Verstraelen, Chief Digital & Innovation officer, Port of Antwerp

Client experience

Massive industry combined with a bustling city on one patch of land: this offers a lot of challenges for logistics. Thanks to data analysis, clients and users of Port of Antwerp will notice a more efficient mobility plan. With remote controlled inland navigation, rail traffic platforms and dynamic control of traffic flows, this is a huge step towards more sustainable industry activities.

Antwerp’s port is a community that helps to establish the 21st century society, by implementing a lot of infrastructure of the future.


Erwin Verstraelen, Chief Digital & Innovation officer, Port of Antwerp

Curious about what Antwerp has to offer? Learn more about digital innovation in the city.

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