“With our participation we seek to contribute towards the further development of NxtPort as an innovative data platform that will be a driver of logistical, maritime and industrial innovation in our port, as well as offering gains in efficiency,” said Port Authority CEO Jacques Vandermeiren.

“Big data is the fuel of the future economy; it is an engine of growth and change. So we have to back it in a big way.”

“With NxtPort we aim to make data transparent for all players in the supply chain,” said Daniel Lievens, CEO of NxtPort. “In this way we along with the other port players can develop the port of the future, where digitisation opens the way to smart, cost-efficient logistics. Last month we already introduced the first services with NxtPort, but we’re already looking beyond that.

"We’re currently working on various practical applications for improving the Customs processes. In addition we’re looking at how we along with the forwarders, ship agents and shippers can make more effective use of the available capacity on the terminals, by giving the various players a better view of the route that the goods will follow on their way to the hinterland. In the meantime, improved handling of container barges is also on the list of projects in the short term.”

Separately, Antwerp Port Authority is to acquire Nationale Maatschappij der Pijpleidingen (NMP) from its current shareholders Ackermans & van Haaren and Electrabel. With the takeover the port will gain ownership and control of 720 km of pipelines, 90% of which serve the chemical and petrochemical companies in the port of Antwerp and its hinterland. The port is paying €44M.

The current NMP portfolio is mainly concentrated in the port of Antwerp and pipelines leading to and from it. NMP at present obtains 86% of its income from 600 km of pipelines within the port area or connecting the Antwerp cluster companies with petrochemical companies in Kempen (Flanders) and Feluy (Wallonia). Another 11% comes from joint ventures that manage 117.5 km of pipeline, of which 67.8 km is located in the port of Antwerp. The NMP pipelines mainly carry ethylene, propylene and technical gases for customers in the port and in the hinterland.

NMP was set up in 1978 by the Belgian State in order to coordinate the Belgian pipeline network for transport of petrochemical products. The shares in the company were until now held 75% by Ackermans & van Haaren and 25% by Electrabel.