How is the Port of Antwerp optimising logistics with data science?

Looking for fast, intelligent exploitation of its mass of data, the Port of Antwerp turned to Business & Decision to optimise and secure the safety and efficiency of its maritime transport. A report.

The Port of Antwerp is the second largest port in Europe, with the biggest lock in the world. Every year its infrastructure and organisation staff supervise the travel and visits of 15 000 seagoing vessels and 60 000 inland navigation vessels

Data analysis offers strong prospects to all enterprises, and is particularly valuable when resolving complex challenges. The Port of Antwerp IT department was aware of the opportunity for optimisation that data analysis offered the organisation. They turned to us for the rapid integration of analytical tools into their operations.

Data analysis for opening new prospects

Technology has long played a facilitating role, playing a key role in the optimisation of infrastructures, nautical operations, and logistics. Because of increasing port traffic, growing operational complexity, and the rise in demand for just-in-time planning, its potential continues to grow.

The Port of Antwerp wanted to use the different data sources in a targeted way to open up all kinds of previously unexploited opportunities and uses. “Speed, efficiency and savings are our main motivations,” explains Jan Goossens, project leader on behalf of the Port of Antwerp.

 

"We realised that we didn’t know how to use and coordinate this huge volume of data to deepen our knowledge and profit from it."

Jan goossens, project leader

 

“We realised that we didn’t know how to use and coordinate this huge volume of data to deepen our knowledge and profit from it.” A realisation that essentially came in response to the requirement for an automatic identification system (AIS transponders – a common practice in the air transport sector for years, but only required for maritime transport since 2012).

AIS data, used for real-time visualisation of maritime traffic, was stored for a maximum of three months because of their immense volume. Consequently, they had never been used to collect detail historical information on bottlenecks, peak times, delays, or risks.

How is the Port of Antwerp optimising logistics with data science thumb

A future-proofed platform

In order to choose the most appropriate technology, Orange Business opted for an approach based on the most high-performance technology, with speed, robustness and scalability the chief requirements. “Although this is a customised solution, that does not mean that it is also the most expensive,” stresses Luc Mertens. “Big data is often wrong associated with big money.”

We also work with a team very flexible multi-disciplinary team, which has engaged our data architects, data engineers and data scientists at various stages of the project. That way we can develop solutions that are not stuck in the design phase, but remain achievable in practice. We have built the Port of Antwerp a future-oriented platform, capable of undertaking all kinds of analyses and use scenarios.”

 

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About the author

Luka Riester
Luka Riester
Data & Digital
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