Antwerp: It was none other than Napoleon Bonaparte who saw the strategic potential of Antwerp as a port, ordering the construction of the city’s first dock and lock in 1811. Since then the port has gone on to become a giant, second only to Rotterdam in tonnage terms in Europe. Three years ago Port of Antwerp International (PAI) was founded to impart some of the knowledge and expertise that the Belgian entity has amassed to other ambitious port cities.
Currently PAI is working in India, Africa and the Middle East. In India, PAI is working with Essar Ports to help diversify their businesses in Hazira, Paradip, Salalay and Vadinar.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo PAI is in the midst of coming up with recommendations to the national government for a port reform bill for the ports of Matadi, Boma and Banana.
In San Pedro in th Ivory Coast PAI has teamed up with the local port authority to run through master planning.
Over in the Middle East the greenfield port of Duqm in Oman is developing fast and PAI is involved in providing expertise on all aspects of port management and attracting operators to start-up activities.
PAI has also been approached by Myanmar and has also recently concluded an MoU with Rosmorport – the Port Authority of the Russian Federation.
“In all these projects,” says PAI’s ceo Gunther Ginckels, “emphasis is on training and education and releasing Port of Antwerp’s large pool of expert resources to take position with the respective port authorities or stakeholders at the same side of the table.”
Traditionally PAI promotes the landlord model for port development. “Although this can cover a large area of services,” Ginckels says, “we do believe that a port should also be a field for competition where multiple stevedoring, cargo handlers and container – intermodal operators should offer competitive services to their customers – cargo owners and shipping lines.” This is something Antwerp has been offering very successfully for the past 200 years, helping it shift 187m tonnes of cargo last year. [03/07/13]
