DP World trials autonomous vehicle

The demonstration involved a fully electric automated vehicle developed by VDL Automated Vehicles and was designed to provide practical insight into how autonomous transport behaves under real operational pressures.

“Innovation at terminal level starts with understanding how new technologies behave in real operational situations,” said Edi Cioran, chief executive, DP World Antwerp.

“This demonstration gives us the opportunity to learn, together with our partners, from a live environment.”

The vehicle moved empty containers across the terminal yard, travelling between buffer zones and storage blocks while interacting with trucks and other internal terminal vehicles along a predefined route.

The trial was staged after a preparation phase that included multiple test runs to validate operating conditions ahead of the live demonstration. Unlike closed or isolated tests, the vehicle operated during normal terminal activity.

The trial formed part of the PIONEERS innovation programme, led by the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, which brings together ports, terminal operators, technology developers and public partners. Observations from the demonstration will now be reviewed and shared within the consortium and across DP World’s global network.