Reinforcement for Global Port Training with Blue Gate Training Center
In the anniversary edition of our magazine, we gave companies in the maritime and logistics sector a chance to showcase themselves. Global Port Training (GPT) is a training centre specialising in training operators for port-related machinery.
Founded in 2008, the company provides training in more than 70 countries and around 155 ports worldwide. Today, the organisation is being strengthened with its own training centre at Antwerp South.
Founder Lode De Bock, originally an instructor in the port of Antwerp, had an international network. Based on a successful demand to train operators in Angola, Global Port Training nv was founded in 2008.
Employees and Recruitment
Global Port Training has a permanent team of 12 employees on a daily basis. For new assignments, the company can draw on a pool of around 40 instructors. As an Antwerp port authority, GPT can recruit from its existing port pool.
The selection process starts with a digital test that measures the candidate’s hand-eye coordination. That test is based on a database of more than 3,000 tested candidates. The result of this test determines the length of training. Accurate, reliable and objective are the keywords for this COST test.
Blue Gate Training Center
The Blue Gate Training Center at the Petroleum-Zuid site in Antwerp is the location where both theoretical and practical training is given to logistics operators. “As the only commercial company here, we can offer training for reach stackers (RS) and Empty Container Handlers (ECH). We also have a specialisation in ‘lashing & securing’ and in ‘stuffing & stripping’. From 2024, we will offer open sessions for all those courses. You can register for these via the Global Port Training website.
At the Blue Gate Training Centre, Global Port Training works closely with two other training centres: Vinçotte-Academy and BE-Consult. These centres offer high-quality training for various sectors, including construction, (petro)chemicals, logistics and asbestos removal.
Worldwide, ports are looking for drivers for different types of machines such as Reachstackers, Empty Container Handlers, STS (Ship-to-Shore cranes), RTG (Rubber-Tired Gantry cranes) and so on. Global Port Training responds to this by creating a pool of operators with Operations Support (OST). OST proactively trains operators and then seconds them to customers.
