AI in Maritime & Port Logistics — Rotterdam 2026
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AI in Maritime & Port Logistics — Rotterdam 2026

3 – 5 August 2026
Rotterdam Ahoy, Ahoyweg 10, 3084 BA Rotterdam, Netherlands

About this edition

Hosted in the heart of the Port of Rotterdam, this edition convenes terminal operators, shipping lines, freight-forwarders and AI researchers to deep-dive into computer-vision crane automation, predictive vessel scheduling, AI-powered customs and the autonomous shipping roadmap powering global trade.

3-day agenda

Day-by-day breakdown of keynotes, panels, labs and networking.

Day 1
Monday 3 August
  1. 09:00
    Opening keynote — AI at the Port: From Crane to Container Yard
    Keynote
  2. 11:00
    Computer vision for terminal automation
    Workshop
  3. 14:00
    Panel — Autonomous vessels & the IMO roadmap
    Panel
Day 2
Tuesday 4 August
  1. 09:30
    Predictive maintenance for fleets & cranes
    Talks
  2. 14:00
    Hands-on lab: AI-driven supply-chain digital twins
    Lab
  3. 19:00
    Harbour cruise & networking dinner
    Networking
Day 3
Wednesday 5 August
  1. 10:00
    AI-powered customs, biosecurity & green shipping
    Talks
  2. 15:00
    Closing roundtable — The autonomous port by 2030
    Panel

Featured speakers

6 confirmed
Captain Sofie de Vries, Director, Smart Port Programme at Port of Rotterdam Authority
Captain Sofie de Vries
Director, Smart Port Programme · Port of Rotterdam Authority

Leads the Port's digital-twin and autonomous-vessel initiatives across 42 km of terminals.

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Lars Jansen, Head of AI at Maersk Digital
Lars Jansen
Head of AI · Maersk Digital

Heads computer-vision and predictive-routing across Maersk's global terminal network.

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Dr. Aiko Tanaka, Principal Researcher, Autonomous Shipping at TU Delft
Dr. Aiko Tanaka
Principal Researcher, Autonomous Shipping · TU Delft

Researches collision-avoidance and reinforcement-learning navigation for autonomous vessels.

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Mateo Rossi, VP Logistics AI at DHL Supply Chain
Mateo Rossi
VP Logistics AI · DHL Supply Chain

Architect of DHL's AI-driven freight-forwarding and customs automation platform.

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Anika Bhattacharya, Director of Sustainability AI at Shell Maritime
Anika Bhattacharya
Director of Sustainability AI · Shell Maritime

Leads emissions optimisation and green-fuel AI initiatives across Shell's bunkering operations.

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Jeroen Bakker, CTO at Kalmar Automation
Jeroen Bakker
CTO · Kalmar Automation

Builds autonomous straddle carriers and yard-automation software for global terminals.

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Inside the conference

Scenes from the floor, keynotes and operator workshops.

Container ship docked at Rotterdam port at sunset
Stack of shipping containers at the Port of Rotterdam
Cargo cranes loading a container vessel
Aerial view of Rotterdam harbour terminals

Exhibitors

Meet the companies demoing on the expo floor.

PortVision AI
Computer vision

Real-time crane, container and vessel detection for smart terminals.

WaveRoute
Vessel routing

Weather-aware AI routing that cuts fuel burn by up to 18%.

TerminalTwin
Digital twins

Live digital-twin platform for container yards and intermodal hubs.

CustomsCopilot
Trade compliance

LLM-powered customs classification and EU border automation.

FleetSense
Predictive maintenance

IoT + ML for early fault detection on engines, gantries and reach stackers.

GreenWake
Sustainability

Emissions tracking and AI optimisation for IMO 2030 compliance.

Sponsors & partners

The organisations making this edition possible.

Platinum
Port of Rotterdam Authority

Host partner and operator of Europe's largest seaport.

Maersk

Global integrator of container logistics.

Gold
DHL Supply Chain

End-to-end AI-driven freight and contract logistics.

ABB Marine & Ports

Electrification and automation for terminals and vessels.

Silver
Kalmar

Cargo-handling automation and autonomous straddle carriers.

Holland Container Innovations

Sustainable intermodal container solutions.

Community
SmartPort

Independent research community advancing port innovation.

Become a sponsor or exhibitor

Book & pay for your package online

Exhibitor booths from £4,500, Silver / Gold / Platinum sponsorships available — instant booking, secure Stripe checkout.

Exhibit (£4,500) Sponsor (from £12k)

Frequently asked questions

Who should attend Rotterdam 2026?
Terminal operators, shipping-line executives, freight-forwarders, port authorities, maritime regulators and AI engineers building for logistics.
Where is the venue?
Rotterdam Ahoy — Ahoyweg 10, 3084 BA Rotterdam. 15 minutes from Rotterdam Centraal by metro line D and a direct Thalys connection from Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam.
Is the harbour tour included?
Yes — VIP and General Admission tickets both include the Day 2 evening harbour cruise and networking dinner.
Will sessions be in English?
All keynotes, panels and workshops run in English with live Dutch translation on the main stage.