PortID crucial to the digital transformation of inland ports
Published on April 18, 2025Last month, the trade journal Havenlocaties Nederland 2025 published an article on the digitalization of inland ports, highlighting the importance of collaboration between these ports.
The article makes clear that inland ports face major challenges, such as growing container flows, increased bulk transport, and the fight against criminal infiltration.
Starting in 2025, five regions will begin a joint effort to digitalize inland ports using PortID—a set of agreements that enables secure and reliable data exchange for all port users. Inland shipping operators, harbor masters, and companies will soon be able to share data digitally with ease—from booking berths to settling shore power charges—all through their own apps.
The aim is to establish a uniform digital infrastructure for all inland ports, based on the Basic Data Infrastructure (BDI). This will enable more efficient processes, lower costs, and better use of logistics capacity. Municipalities and port authorities play a central role in this transition, supported by organizations such as the Havenbedrijf Rotterdam, Rijkswaterstaat, and various industry associations. Thanks to this standardization, municipalities will also be able to join more easily and structure tenders more intelligently.
