DP World has completed a self-driving vehicle trial in mixed traffic at its Antwerp Gateway terminal, testing autonomous transportation in an active operational environment.
The demonstration took place on January 22 as part of the PIONEERS innovation program at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges and was developed by VDL Automated Vehicles. The trial focused on the movement of empty containers within a busy terminal setting where autonomous vehicles interacted with trucks and internal terminal vehicles.
During the demonstration, a fully electric autonomous vehicle transported empty containers across the terminal yard, moving between operational buffer areas and storage blocks. The vehicle operated on a predefined route and functioned alongside existing terminal traffic, allowing participants to observe how autonomous systems behave in real-world terminal conditions.
Prior to the live demonstration, the vehicle completed a series of test runs at the terminal. This preparation phase was designed to validate the technical setup and operating conditions before deployment in the live environment.
DP World said the trial provided an opportunity to gain practical insight into the application of autonomous transportation technology in terminal operations. Edi Cioran, CEO of DP World Antwerp, said, “Innovation at terminal level starts with understanding how new technologies behave in real operational situations. This demonstration gives us the opportunity to learn, together with our partners, from a live environment.”
The trial forms part of the broader PIONEERS consortium initiative, led by the Port of Antwerp-Bruges. The consortium brings together ports, terminal operators, technology providers and public partners to explore new solutions for port operations. Following the demonstration, the project team will review operational observations and findings gathered during the vehicle’s time at the terminal.
DP World said the results will be shared within the PIONEERS consortium and across its global operations to support further development of autonomous transportation technologies. Such systems are seen as having the potential to take over repetitive container movements, improve safety in mixed traffic environments and increase operational flexibility at terminals.
The project received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Grant Agreement 101037564.
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