The port of Antwerp has remained 100% operational since the outbreak of the coronavirus. During his visit, King Philippe wanted to see how this is being put into practice and express his appreciation for the 60,000 or so people who keep the port running.

King Philippe began his visit at the MPET terminal. Europe's largest container facility, by its own account, is located in the Deurganck dock, where around nine million containers are handled every year. He then went to the border control point on the left bank, where the customs department and the Belgian Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC) work closely together. Since the first outbreak of the coronavirus, all players in the port's nautical and logistical chain have remained 100% operational, while maintaining a distance of 1.5 meters between people and observing preventive hygiene measures. Thanks to the rapid implementation of these protective measures and the commitment of everyone involved, the port was able to maintain normal operations.

The port is an important link in the supply chain for Belgium and a large part of Europe. Vital goods such as food, pharmaceuticals, fuels and raw materials for other essential products are delivered to the whole of Europe via the port. King Philippe found out how the port companies, logistics partners and government authorities are working together to deal with the corona crisis and asked a number of port workers how they are dealing with the corona measures and what impact they are having on their work.

The ability to innovate is a great advantage in times of crisis such as these. One example is the use of "smart bracelets" from the technology company Rombit. Originally designed to increase the occupational safety of nautical employees, after only a few weeks of use, this technology is now also being used to ensure compliance with social distancing rules at all times and thus prevent the spread of the coronavirus in the workplace. Safety is of the utmost importance for all employees in the port. The new application, which the Antwerp Port Authority is the first to test, has therefore attracted worldwide attention. The wristbands are an example of Belgian innovation, supported by the strong brand image of the port of Antwerp.