Belgium is launching a landmark initiative to strengthen port security through unified action across all its ports.
The Port 2 Port Security Platform brings together every Belgian seaport and inland port, alongside the National Drug Commission, in a European first designed to counter rising threats such as drug smuggling, cyber security breaches and drone misuse.
“This platform will combine our individual strengths into a collective force to stay one step ahead of criminals,” the initiators from Port of Antwerp-Bruges, North Sea Port and CSD Limburg said in a press statement.
“Security forms the foundation of all port activities, and innovation gains momentum when it’s a collaborative effort.”
A coordinated defence
Belgium’s Federal Minister of Justice and North Sea Annelies Verlinden has formally approved the move, which aims to create a coordinated national defence for critical maritime infrastructure.
The country’s ports are major gateways for global trade, making them prime targets for organised crime and sophisticated cross-border threats.
By shifting from fragmented initiatives to a unified strategy, the platform aims to enhance port technology, information exchange and operational coordination.
It will include the ports of Liège, Brussels and Ostend, as well as waterway managers in Antwerp and Flemish Brabant, creating a nationwide network focused on resilience and prevention.
The cooperation builds on the ISPS Code and the Belgian Maritime Security Act, whose recent revision encourages automated processes and more structured information sharing.
