Indiana and Antwerp-Bruges ports MoU aims for direct service

Jody Peacock, CEO for Ports of Indiana, said. “Our ports have mutual strategic, economic, and innovation interests, and this agreement formalises a plan for working together to advance key shipping and port development initiatives that will support robust sustainable growth in both of our regions,” he added.

The collaboration includes establishing the first all-water container shipping route between Europe, Chicago and the US Midwest.

“Our ports, centrally located as key trade hubs, have tremendous opportunities to jointly pursue critical connections between Europe and North America,” commented Wim Dillen, International Development Manager for Port of Antwerp-Bruges.

The ports will explore the opportunity to develop container trade to support key industries, including advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, microelectronics, clean energy, life sciences, agriculture, hardwoods, steel, and soybean production.

The agreement also intends to strengthen each of the participants’ commitments to decarbonisation initiatives by sharing best practices and exploring the development of a “Green Shipping Route” from Belgium to Indiana that could significantly reduce carbon emissions versus traditional supply chain routing.

Last month, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges joined the Sweden-Belgium green shipping corridor to bolster its green ambitions.

Related:Port of Antwerp-Bruges increases market share in crisis hit 2023