The transport company A Drone Logistics Company (ADLC) has launched a new cargo drone hub that links the Port of Antwerp-Bruges with Antwerp City Centre. The cargo drone hub was launched at a presentation near Antwerp’s Park Spoor Noord on Monday. The hub is designed to improve and speed up logistical operations between the port and businesses in the north of Antwerp.
Drones have long been a familiar sight over the River Scheldt. ADLC has built up a commercial network at the port that transports petrochemical analysis samples for major clients such as BASF.
Three drones are currently in daily use for this purpose.
“Enormous potential"
The new hub is located near to the Cadix Hospital. It will primarily serve companies located in the northern part of Antwerp. These include maritime service providers such as Wilhelmsen and Kayak.
These companies often need to deliver documents to large ships in the port. This can be done much more quickly by using drones that by using tradition courier services that use motorcycles, cars or vans. ADLC’s Alexander Jordaens told the press agency Belga that “The shipping sector is has not digitised certain procedures. For example, when a ship arrives from Africa, the correct paperwork must be brought on board by courier before the cargo can be unloaded. We will simply send a drone to the terminal, carrying all the necessary documents for signing.”
Mr Jordaens adds that, drone logistics offers clear advantages in terms of speed, safety and sustainability. “The potential is enormous. We now hope to break out of Het Eilandje and the port area into the city and into the business districts. The drone hub that is strategically located near the city centre, ushers in a new era of low-emission logistics.”