The Connectivity Platform, the online tool that was launched last year to keep Antwerp port users well informed about the various possibilities for transport to and from the port, has now been expanded and upgraded, the company said in its press release.
Now, no fewer than 70 transport operators list their intermodal connections, more than 280 shipping companies showcase their maritime connections and 12 container shipping companies give details of their empty depot network on the platform.
“Tens of thousands of users have visited the Connectivity Platform this year and made intensive use of it,” declared port alderman Marc Van Peel. “Since it was first launched, 200 container terminals in 15 European countries have joined the platform. With this handy transport planning tool we are able to promote our very wide range and the many service providers in the port of Antwerp. Moreover, the platform points our customers and service providers in the right direction, so that they can link up easily.”
The user-friendly platform with its clear layout informs users first of all about the possibilities in the port. An interactive map enables them to find specific container terminals in the port on the basis of various criteria. The address and contact details of each terminal are listed along with a description of the services offered. Secondly, the Connectivity Platform describes the intermodal connections to and from the European hinterland. Users obtain a unique, transparent overview of the inland terminals in the European hinterland, as well as how best to reach them, via which operator.
The new, user-friendly search function provides a clear view of the range of deepsea and shortsea services to and from the port of Antwerp. Users can search for connections per port, per country and per route. Searching per country or route first brings up a list of connections between that country or route and the port of Antwerp. In this way the online tool reveals the range of maritime services offered by Antwerp. Meanwhile a handy Google map shows the location of the various ports. For each port there is a list of the agents and shipping companies offering services between it and Antwerp, together with important details such as the form of shipping and frequency of the connection.
On the hinterland side the platform offers a new search function that enables users to look up the network of empty depots per final destination and per shipping line. For each shipping line there is a list of the pick-up and drop-off services for 20 ft and 40 ft containers. Thanks to this last function, shippers and logistics service providers can always find out where they can pick up or drop off empties, anywhere in the hinterland, and subsequently use them for new consignments. In this way empty containers can always be brought quickly to the right empty depot, thus saving costs and reducing CO2 emissions. There are currently 12 shipping companies listing their empty depots on the platform.