Benelux ports cooperation not self-evident

‘Are Benelux ports condemned to cooperation?’ was the theme of the debate at the two-day World Water Works conference in Antwerp. Stefan Verberckmoes, shipping analyst at Alphaliner and shipping editor for Flows, who led the debate, immediately noted that the port companies involved had not responded to the invitation to the talk. “They are working behind the scenes on their cooperation,” he suggested. However, port commissioner Jan Blomme proved to be the perfect person to tell it like it is since ‘port cooperation’ is part of his remit.