DP World ran a fully electric, self-driving vehicle at its Antwerp Gateway terminal, transporting empty containers and collecting real-time data to inform future autonomous operations.
The fully electric autonomous vehicle transported empty containers across the yard between buffer areas and storage blocks, following a predefined route while interacting with trucks and other terminal traffic.
A prior preparation phase included test runs to validate operating conditions ahead of the live demonstration.
The trial allowed DP World Antwerp and its partners to study autonomous transport technology in a real operational environment.
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 PIONEERS consortium, led by the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, unites ports, terminal operators, technology developers and public partners to test and develop innovative port solutions.
Observations from the trial will be reviewed to inform future autonomous operations and shared within the consortium and DP World’s global network.
Autonomous transport solutions could support terminals by handling repetitive container movements, enhancing safety in mixed-traffic environments, and improving operational flexibility.
Amid these technological advances, DP World remains confident in broader trade resilience. Despite a fragile trade outlook, DP World reported that 94 per cent of executives expected 2026 volumes to match or exceed 2025, driven by resilience and route diversification.
