Convergence Program
Welcome to AI Port Center
Erasmus University and University of Technology Delft have joined forces to bring Artificial Intelligence (AI) from research institutes to practice.
3
Top Dutch Universities
10+
Running projects
150+
Partners from the port industry
~4 Mio
Research funding approved
Our Mission
We help ports navigate significant transitions by conducting practice-oriented research on AI applications in close partnership with local knowledge institutes, business partners, governmental and social organizations, and the Port of Rotterdam industrial cluster
Research
Needs
– Partnerships to test innovations
– Infrastructure to test innovations
– Data to train AI
Offers
– Expertise in AI
– Out of the box thinking
– Design to fail
Industry Partners
Offers
– Data from daily operations
– Expertise in operations
Needs
– Innovations to stay competitive
– Research community for new ideas
– Save costs, maximize profits
Our Focus Topics
01
Autonomous Transport
– Real-time Navigation & Decision Making
– Traffic & Route Optimization
02
Climate Change
– Carbon Emission Reduction
– Climate Prediction & Disaster Response
03
Smart Logistics
– Dynamic Route & Delivery Optimization
– Predictive Demand & Inventory Management
04
Energy Transition
– Renewable Energy Optimization
– Smart Grid & Demand Forecasting
Meet Our Team
Our team combines expertise in port operations with research capabilities to drive innovative solutions. With a blend of industry specialists and strategic thinkers, we navigate complex challenges with precision and insight. We work to deliver impactful results that enhance efficiency, sustainability, and growth in the port areas.
Rudy Negenborn
Academic Lead – TU Delft
r.r.negenborn@tudelft.nl
Rob Zuidwijk
Academic Lead – Erasmus University
rzuidwijk@rsm.nl
Nicolette Stehouwer – den Hollander
Innovation Manager
stehouwer@eur.nl
Tim Meijster
Innovation Manager
t.meijster@tudelft.nl
Sophie Broere
Innovation Manager
s.broere@tudelft.nl
Peter Wenzel
Innovation Manager
peter.wenzel@eur.nl
Partners
We work with several partners around Europe.
Projects
Catalyzer Project: Wind-assisted propulsion × AI voyage optimisation
Wind-assisted propulsion and AI-based voyage optimisation are usually valued separately. This project measures their combined value, quantifying the effect on a real vessel under real operating conditions.
Catalyzer Project: Innovation Program for Lashing Work
Lashing is physically demanding, safety-critical work, but nobody has a sector-wide picture of who is doing what. This project maps the stakeholders, initiatives and opportunities as the groundwork for a joint innovation programme.
Catalyzer Project: PORTAL-AI: legal aspects of AI threat analysis
AI can flag a vessel as a threat — and a wrong flag can mean refused entry or delayed cargo. PORTAL-AI examines the liability, data, and governance questions that decide when AI-supported threat analysis may be relied on.
Catalyzer Project: AI-driven decision support for maritime structural integrity
Ships are still assessed with simplified load assumptions while ports grow ever more data-rich. This project links real wind and wave data to hull stress through machine learning, giving a decision-support tool for faster structural integrity assessment.
Catalyzer Project: Cyber security in maritime technology
Define secure shipboard IT/OT architecture
Catalyzer Project: LLM for the Maritime Industry
Preserve maritime engineering knowledge with AI
Catalyzer Project: AI Applications in Container-Pick-up
Improve terminal–trucker coordination using AI
Catalyzer Project: Bridging Law and Engineering
Ontologies for accountable maritime AI operations
Sponsored Project: AI Port Center Data Hub
An extensive field study was conducted so classify AI software and their responsible use in ports.
NWO project Perspectief
European seaports must be carbon neutral by 2050. The PortCall.Zero solutions will help save a yearly estimate of 150 million tons of emissions related to waiting ships and contribute to future-ready port revenues.
Catalyzer Project: Explainable AI
Explaining the results of AI is difficult. This research interviews experts in the domain of inland shipping and researchers current barriers for AI implementations.
Catalyzer Project: Responsible AI
An extensive field study was conducted so classify AI software and their responsible use in ports.
Catalyzer Project: AI in customs
Investigation of architecture and use cases of ChatBots to support port’s customs procedures.
Catalyzer Project: Disruptions in Hinterland Transports
Disruptions in ports influence hinterland transports. By applying AI technologies this project is able to learn disruptions to better steer transportation processes.
Students Port Challenge
24h workshop with students from different professions to develop new ideas for the port’s future.
Innovation project for a port
The goal of the project was to provide a port with greater insight into how technology, particularly artificial intelligence, data, and digitalization, can support the strategic challenges faced by the port authority.
Events
We organize two events per year.
Contact Us
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