The port of Antwerp is introducing the brand-new training course Cold Chain Logistics in 2015, aimed at international professionals from shipping companies, authorities and logistics service providers active in containerised and conventional reefer transport, the company said in its press release.
As the biggest banana port in Europe, Antwerp has built up unmatched expertise and know-how in logistics storage and advanced handling of perishable goods. Through APEC (the port of Antwerp training centre) this know-how will now be made available to shipping professionals in fruit exporting countries. Among others the port of Santa Marta in Columbia has already shown interest in this new seminar that will start on 1 June 2015.
APEC has acted as the international training centre for the port of Antwerp for more than 35 years now. Trainees can choose from three types of course: standard seminars, seminars tailored to the need of visitors and courses abroad. The subjects of the seminars are oriented as closely as possible to the needs of the market. This new seminar is no exception, as it caters specifically to the requirements of fruit exporting countries. During the course participants will learn about how the logistics cold chain is organised, from producer to consumer. Presentations of the latest technologies and visits to among others a fruit auction and an inspection post will help to give a better understanding of how perishable goods are stored and handled.
Next month a delegation from the port of Antwerp will take part in a trade mission to Peru and Columbia headed by Princess Astrid of Belgium. During the visit APEC will sign a collaboration agreement with the port of Santa Marta in Colombia under which the training centre undertakes to provide courses for professionals from Santa Marta for a period of four years. The new Cold Chain Logistics seminar will form part of the programme that will be developed during this four-year period.