Port 2 Port Security Platform being launched by all Belgian seaports and inland ports

This initiative will reinforce Belgium's position as a pioneer in integrated port security and sharpen its focus on threats including drug smuggling, cyber-attacks and the misuse of drones. It marks a European first in which every port and waterway within one country collaborates strategically and operationally. Federal Minister of Justice and North Sea Annelies Verlinden gave the official go-ahead for the platform.

Key highlights: The Port 2 Port Security Platform will unite all Belgian seaports and inland ports in an integrated security approach. This joint initiative of Port of Antwerp-Bruges, North Sea Port, CSD Limburg and the National Drug Commission is the first of its kind in Europe

The platform will focus on knowledge sharing and on measures relating to security inspections, access control and security screenings, and transforming individual effort into shared impact Belgian ports, as hubs of international trade, are vulnerable to organized crime and cross-border threats including drug smuggling, cyber-attacks and the misuse of drones.

With the Port 2 Port Security Platform, the approach will shift from separate initiatives to a co-ordinated strategy. The platform, an initiative of Port of Antwerp-Bruges, North Sea Port, Coordination and Support Directorate (CSD) Limburg and the National Drugs Commission, will also bring together the ports of Liège, Brussels and Ostend, as well as the waterway managers in Antwerp and Flemish Brabant.

Sharing expertise and creating joint security measures will allow the partners to strengthen the resilience of the entire Belgian port system.

Solid legal foundation
The cooperation builds on the ISPS Code (International Ship and Port Facility Security) and the Belgian Maritime Security Act, which translate international standards into a strengthened legal framework against organized crime. The recent revision of the law encourages an automated, structural approach and promotes the exchange of information between the authorities involved, with particular attention to protecting critical infrastructure, port facilities and personnel.

Collaboration as a driver of security
The Port 2 Port Security Platform is an operational collaboration model that combines practical experience with innovation. Going forward, ports will regularly exchange knowledge on inspections, access control, security screenings, drones and AI camera surveillance. They will also reinforce a shared security culture through joint training and awareness. The platform will complement existing national and local ISPS authorities and enable cross-cutting cooperation between ports.

Mutual trust is central to this: security is a collective responsibility that transcends competition. Belgium sets a European first with pioneering initiative With the Port 2 Port Security Platform, Belgian ports will set a new standard in Europe: an integrated security approach across all seaports, inland ports and waterways. By combining traditional enforcement with prevention, innovation, information exchange and shared standards, they will work together to build a future-proof and resilient port network.

Initiators
Port of Antwerp-Bruges, North Sea Port and CSD Limburg: "Security forms the foundation of all port activities. These ports bring years of experience and knowledge, which they are keen to share with others. We also believe that innovation only truly gains momentum when it is a collaborative effort. With the Port 2 Port Security Platform, we will combine our individual strengths into a collective force to stay one step ahead of criminals and continue to strengthen the security of our people, infrastructure and economy."

Justice and North Sea Minister Annelies Verlinden: "Security starts with sharing information and expertise. With Port 2 Port, we are building a robust network that better protects our ports and strengthens their resilience. In this way, we will demonstrate that cooperation is a key force in keeping our economic engines safe and resilient."

National Drugs Commission Drugs Commissioner Ine Van Wymersch: “Sharing knowledge and expertise across all Belgian ports means working concretely on collective resilience against organized crime and disruptive activities. An important impact of this collaboration is its mitigation of spill-over effects. An initiative launched by both public and private partners immediately demonstrates the importance of this theme: ‘Security through resilience’ is at the top of the agenda for the entire port community.”

Share this article: