The Port of Zeebrugge has joined the International Port Community Systems Association (IPCSA). The port is looking to share its expertise in smart port, green port and safety port projects.
“We want to keep up to date on developments in other ports and offer the expertise of Zeebrugge to work on an international system that can benefit all port users,” said Peter Merlevede ICT manager at the Port of Zeebrugge.
“We believe in digitalisation and standardisation and want to be an active member of IPCSA – participating in these developments in a community that is broader than Zeebrugge port alone. We know that exchanging ideas and discussing experiences is always valuable for all parties involved.”
Zeebrugge strongly believes that digitalisation is an important step in retaining the port’s competitiveness, said Merlevede.
“In anticipation of a Brexit for instance, the Port of Zeebrugge has developed RX/Seaport, a data-sharing platform which offers a digital connection between all links in the logistics chain. The system is ready for use when Brexit occurs, but the applications of the system can be used in many other situations.”
In 2019, the Port of Zeebrugge invested in a private 5G network for the port area. Together with Citymesh and Nokia, it is now able to supply a working 5G network that will provide wireless connectivity to more than 100 endpoints across the entire port operations.
As well as tracking and managing connected devises across the port the 5G network will be used to advance major building projects such as maintenance and build of offshore wind farms.
The port is also focusing on this Clean Port strategy and is already an important landing point for offshore wind energy generated in the Belgian North Sea.
All maritime services in the Port of Zeebrugge are coordinated through the port authority’s ZEDIS system, with aligns with the European Maritime Single Window, as set out in the EU Reporting Formalities Directive. The port authority is now expanding the ZEDIS platform by incorporating cargo flows from the RX/SeaPort platform developed in anticipation of Brexit.
