The ports of Liège and Antwerp have decided to collaborate more closely with each other. Since 2006 the two port authorities have worked together in an economic collaboration association to market the Trilogiport multimodal platform in Liège. The two parties now seek to collaborate even more closely in the fields of intermodal transport, ICT facilities based in the port of Antwerp, and streamlining their customs and other procedures.
On the occasion of a working visit to the port of Antwerp by the Walloon minister-president Rudy Demotte, a memorandum of understanding was signed by the port authorities of Liège and Antwerp.
In the field of multimodal transport the two parties want to achieve a shift to the more environment-friendly modes of barge and rail. One initiative in this area will be to examine whether the introduction of the Antwerp Barge Traffic System can offer added value to the Liège port operators. Significant progress has already been made in the past few years. Whereas in 1998 some 93% of freight was carried between Antwerp and Liège by truck, the proportion has now dropped to 64%.
In the field of ICT the parties are examining which features of the recently introduced Antwerp Port Community System could also be useful to Liège port users. Possibilities include the Export Control System and the advance notice of arrival for trucks. Finally, the parties will look at ways of streamlining their customs procedures and facilities, including port warehouse licences, food safety inspections and the border inspection post.
Antwerp and Liège have long had good economic relations. Thanks to among other things the Albert canal (Liège is 14 hours away from Antwerp by barge) a constructive interaction has developed between e.g. maritime logistics in Antwerp and the metal industry in Liège.
Liège has further succeeded in positioning itself as a logistics hub for containers and other freight not only in its own region but also the neighbouring German, Dutch and French hinterland. Indeed it has become Europe’s third-largest inland port. As such it is one of the most important inland hubs for Antwerp.
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Source: Port of Antwerp, September 7, 2011.