Cyber threats and operational security, multimodal connectivity and reliability, AI and digitalisation, decarbonisation and energy transition, all will come under the spotlight at the 25th Coastlink Conference in Rotterdam next April.
In a changing short sea shipping world, any opportunity to benefit from the experience and expertise of those operating in the heart of the sector is not to be missed.
A case in point comes in the opening session on the first day of the 14-15 April event, when the impact of trade disruptions – and a collaborative response to manage them – will bring together Zera Zheng, Global Head of Supply Chain Resilience & Consulting at Maersk, the British Ports Association’s Chief Executive Richard Ballantyne, and Arno Storm, CEO of Rotterdam Shortsea Terminals (RST), co-host of Coastlink alongside the Port of Rotterdam.
Following on from this dynamic, hands-on opening, the conference will go forward and examine how ports, terminals, shipping lines and inland transport providers are strengthening multimodal connectivity.
Next up, and in the session Digital Innovation for Smart(er) Ports, the practical applications of digitalisation, automation, AI and data sharing will be explored, with their role in improving service reliability and creating seamless short sea, rail and hinterland freight networks examined.
All of this on the first day – and before the Port Tour and Conference Dinner, which will provide delegates with panoramic views from, and then views of, the Nieuwe Mass which flows through the heart of Rotterdam.
The opening session of the second day – Policy Into Practise: Regulation Shaping the Future – will bring together Johan-Paul Verschuure, Project Director at Rebel Ports & Logistics, and Dr Tom Beard, Clean Energy & Future Fuels Growth Initiative Lead at BMT, both with insights well worth hearing.
Practical approaches to sustainable logistics including emissions reduction initiatives, and strategies to reduce congestion across increasingly complex RoRo, short sea and intermodal supply chains will all be showcased ahead of the concluding session, Roadmap to Resilience: Turning Discussion into Action, which will ask a simple question: what does resilience actually look like in practice?
For more information about the 2027 Coastlink Conference Provisional Programme, or to take your place in Rotterdam, simply click here
