Study trip to Rotterdam & Antwerp
From 29 March to 1 April 2022, students from the MSc “International Trade and Logistics” had the privilege of travelling to the Netherlands and Belgium to discover the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp.
Rotterdam, second largest city of the Netherlands, is home to the largest European port. Recognised for the quality of its facilities, it is a key location for global maritime transport, the perfect site for students to gain a deeper understanding of the industry. The port of Rotterdam is particularly well suited to container, groupage and vehicle shipping of all sizes. With more than 1,000 ports served, it provides solid solutions for intra-European and global freight.
Antwerp is the capital of Antwerp Province in the Flemish Region, and Europe's 2nd largest container port. It is a multifunctional port, combining transshipment, industrial and logistics activities. It handles 187 million tons of goods per year, making it the second largest port in Europe, with 105 million tons of containerised cargo, 46 million tons of liquid bulk, 19 million tons of dry bulk and 12.7 million tons of breakbulk.
Study trip agenda
The trip began with a tour of the Antwerp port administration office where the students received a brief presentation of the port and the history of the city of Antwerp itself.
On the second day, students were able to explore the two cities of Antwerp and Rotterdam. They started with a special visit to the port of Rotterdam and its maritime museum. They were able to discover the various terminals and port facilities in operation up close, including the fully autonomous APM terminal.
We had a better appreciation of the governance structure of the port, putting into context what we had studied in theory. In what I consider a once-in-a-lifetime experience, we had the opportunity to see two of the world's largest ships at the same time, namely the "Ever Ace", a 24,000 TEU Evergreen A-class container ship, and the "Pioneering Spirit", Allseas' single crane ship.
On the last day, they attended a series of conferences organised by the Port of Rotterdam Authority. These lectures highlighted current industry trends, the role of the port authority and its plans for transformation towards digitalisation and sustainability. They then visited the BCTN private inland barge terminal in Alblasserdam. They were able to understand the nature of their transport operations and in particular the role they play in decongesting road traffic, environmental sustainability and increasing container throughput for the Port of Rotterdam.
In the course of the day, we were able to put theory into context, listening to real-life stories and seeing first-hand the unique role of Rotterdam's geographical features in relation to European hinterland activities.
Through this trip, which will remain an exceptional memory of their studies at KEDGE, second year students also celebrated the end of their course period before starting their internship.
Master the commercial and strategic challenges of transport & logistics with ITL
Drawing strength from a rich heritage and strong links with the corporate world, KEDGE offers high-quality training as well as exclusive insights into its global vision of transport and logistics. The international element of the MSc programme in International Transport and Logistics is the cornerstone of the programme. It follows a partnership-lead method of teaching, enabling students to get hands-on experience managing international and strategic issues related to sustainable transportation, storage, customs, and IT. Taking a global perspective on international transport and logistics helps students develop skills in three key areas: trade, international transport, and logistics.
