S9. Towards Virtual Ports in a Physical Internet 

June 15th | 14.45 -17.00 CET | STREAM  2: LOGISTICS NODES: Ports and Airports 

The session will be also broadcasted Live on ALICE YOUTUBE Channel

Session Description  

The NWO/TKI Dinalog project ‘Towards Virtual Ports in a Physical Internet’ develops models and tools which can support ports and businesses in their hinterlands to change over to and gradually participate in a complete Physical Internet network. In this workshop we present the outcomes and insights obtained of the project that was performed by the University of Groningen, TU Delft, Port of Rotterdam and Groningen Seaports in the period 2016-2021. The project was shaped along three building blocks, namely 1) analysing the role of ports in PI networks and consequences of PI for flows of goods; 2) designing tools which can help hinterland businesses make decisions regarding the extent to which services in PI networks are used and provided; 3) analysing roles of other stakeholders in PI networks. In the various presentations we will show what tools have been designed and what effects of PI networks on flows of goods have been observed. We will also present lessons learned that contribute to strategic decision making of ports in relation to the step by step transition to PI networks as well as to other societal transitions, such as the energy transition. This workshop marks the formal closure of the project. 

14.50 – 15.05:  Physical Internet; innovations in the Netherlands, Albert Veenstra, TKI Dinalog 

The Topsector Logistics has sponsored a number of physical internet related projects. The presentation will provide a brief overview of these projects and the way in which they have furthered the agenda of the physical internet paradigm.

15.05 – 15.20 Ports in the Physical Internet: research summary. Lóri Tavasszy, Delft University of Technology and Iris Vis, University of Groningen 

The NWO/TKI Dinalog project ‘Towards Virtual Ports in a Physical Internet’ develops models and tools which can support ports and businesses in their hinterlands to change over to and gradually participate in a complete Physical Internet network. In this present we present a research summary of the outcomes and insights obtained of the project that was performed by the University of Groningen, TU Delft, Port of Rotterdam and Groningen Seaports in the period 2016-2021.  

15.20 – 15.45 The evolution of ports in the Physical Internet. Patrick Fahim, Delft University of Technology Michiel Nijdam, Port of Rotterdam.  

In the first part of the presentation the outcomes of various research projects will be shared on the position and role of maritime ports within the PI, as the transport hubs that facilitate most of the world’s international trade. We expand on the unique position of maritime ports in the PI and the respective challenges this may create. Finally, we present the requirements and policy directions for maritime ports to be ready to take up their role in the PI.  

It is expected that PI will also greatly influence the role of ports in supply chains, but how exactly is still largely unknown. Based on the scenarios developed in the PI studies, it is explained in the second part of the presentation how the port of Rotterdam can form its own strategy to be prepared for a Physical internet and to position the port to remain competitive in the future. 

15.45 – 16.00 Break 

16.00 – 16.15 Effective decision-making in Physical Internet Hinterland networks. Kees Jan Roodbergen and Gerlach van der Heide, University of Groningen  

The hub network of the Physical Internet opens up various new opportunities for companies that need to ship from a port to locations in the hinterland. This presentation summarizes the main findings for a postdoctoral research project on decision-making in Physical Internet networks. First, an interesting opportunity is discussed for quicker demand fulfilment by dynamically making use of available inventory in the various warehouses in the network. Second, the impact of network structure and usage of edges is discussed, showing in which situations it is important to have flexible networks. Finally, for transport companies making use of multiple modalities, a simple Physical Internet-based solution is shown to provide most of the gains of a fully collaborative solution.

16.15 – 16.20 Stakeholder roles in a Physical Internet. Paul Buijs, Assistant Professor in the Department of Operations at the University of Groningen

16.20 – 16.35 The Physical Internet: a new grand challenge for customs authorities? Niek Hacquebord, University of Groningen|Newcastle University, Winfred Kooij and Stef Pastoor, Customs Administration of the Netherlands 

The aim of the study that was carried out was to explore how the PI might impact the operations of customs authorities and to identify requirements to the PI from the perspective of the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration. Based on those requirements, a first conceptual system design for Dutch Customs was developed to deal with the expected impacts of the PI. The findings of the study indicate that customs authorities currently have a very limited set of information available to base their risk assessments on, even though the risk assessment process is crucial for the enforcement of the security and safety of border-crossing goods flows. Dutch Customs needs more data and information that is of higher quality and received at an earlier stage in the logistics chain. The data pipeline concept was identified as being able to fulfil Dutch Customs’ needs, to increase the quality of risks assessments and thereby eliminate the number of unnecessary interventions that disrupt logistical flows. 

16.35 – 16.50 Hydrogen supply chain management: what can be learned from PI concepts, Henk Zwetsloot, Groningen Seaports  

The North of the Netherlands is front runner in developing a hydrogen economy. Groningen Seaports is in the centre of developing the new hydrogen supply chain. Hydrogen logistics has many similarities with cargo logistics and hence physical internet. For instance the need for digital platforms for booking and trade. What can be learned from PI concepts and where is the comparison wrong. 

16.50 – 17.00 Discussion and Closure,  Iris Vis