Antwerp Port Authority joins Flanders Port Area mission to New York

Port Authority signs Memorandum of Understanding and receives security award

The Antwerp Port Authority participates in the Flanders Port Area mission to New York and New Jersey from 24 to 27 February, led by Flemish minister-president Kris Peeters. The mission will focus on economic and trade relations between the USA and the Flemish ports. The programme includes port seminars in which the Flemish ports will present their strengths and opportunities to local businesspeople.

On 24 February, at the outset of the mission, CEO Eddy Bruyninckx of the Antwerp Port Authority will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Admiral Richard M. Larrabee, Director of Port Commerce of the New York/New Jersey Port Authority. The Memorandum will strengthen the friendship and intensify the cooperation between both ports through programmes to encourage mutual trade opportunities, exchange of expertise and know how, cooperation on global trade issues, and educational and cultural exchanges. Last year some 4.3 million tonnes was carried between the ports of Antwerp and New York & New Jersey, including 320,000 TEU of containerised freight.

The visit to New York and New Jersey will also be highlighted by the presentation of Recognition Awards by the U.S. Department of Energy to CEO Eddy Bruyninckx and Administrator Noël Colpin of the Customs and Excise Administration of Belgium for the exemplary support provided throughout the implementation of the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Megaports Initiative at the Port of Antwerp. The award presented to CEO Eddy Bruyninckx recognizes Antwerp Port Authority’s strong commitment to increase the security of both the Port of Antwerp and the global maritime system as a whole. Under the Megaports Initiative, which provides radiation detection equipment, training, and technical support to key international seaports to scan cargo containers for nuclear and other radioactive materials, monitoring is carried out at more than 40 detection sites in the port of Antwerp since 2007.

In 2008 some 21.6 million tonnes of freight was carried between the port of Antwerp and the USA, more than half of it containerised. Other important freight items include oil, coal, iron and chemical products. When it comes to trade with North America, Antwerp has the largest market share of any European port. Antwerp also accounts for 88% of trade between the Flemish ports and the USA.

Source: Antwerp Port Authority