The Port 2 Port Security Platform is being launched by all Belgian seaports and inland ports, together with the National Drug Commission, to facilitate knowledge sharing and joint security initiatives. 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, the Port of Antwerp Bruges Authority said in its news release.
Transforming individual effort into shared impact
Belgian ports, as hubs of international trade, are vulnerable to organised 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 coordinated 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 organised 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.
