PSA Antwerp, Danser Group, and Hutchison Ports Europe Intermodal launch new ‘Willebroek – PSAA Express’ intermodal service

PSA Antwerp, Danser Group, and its partner Hutchison Ports Europe Intermodal (HPEI) have signed a cooperation agreement to launch a new reliable barge connection between PSA's Noordzee Terminal in Antwerp and the Willebroek inland terminal, managed by Hutchison Ports Belgium, a subsidiary of HPEI. The service will be marketed under the name 'Willebroek – PSAA Express'.  

With this weekly express service, the parties are taking the next step in increasing the predictability and quality of inland waterway connections to and from Antwerp, resulting in consistent transit times, greater supply chain transparency, and higher delivery reliability for customers.

The ‘Willebroek – PSAA Express’ strengthens the intermodal connection and offers another viable sustainable solution for stable hinterland access.

For Danser Group and HPEI, of which the inland terminal in Willebroek is a part, this collaboration means a further expansion of their intermodal network, with a focus on planning, continuity, and operational efficiency. The fixed time slots allow operations to be precisely coordinated and a consistent product to be offered to the market.

"With the ‘Willebroek – PSAA Express’, we are continuing to build a network of fixed corridors from Antwerp to the hinterland, expanding PSA Antwerp’s port adjacency,” said Edward Tah, Managing Director PSA Belgium. “By working with fixed time frames and dedicated capacity, we offer predictability and efficiency in barge handling, which directly benefits our customers, giving them peace of mind."

"This new express service to Willebroek fits perfectly with our HPEI strategy of developing strong, reliable intermodal connections,” said Martine Hiel, Managing Director, Hutchison Ports Belgium. “By combining fixed agreements with PSA and our operational know-how, we can offer our customers a guaranteed and consistent service, regardless of traffic congestion on the roads and congestion in the port."

With the launch of the ‘Willebroek – PSAA Express’, PSA Antwerp, HPEI, and Danser Group say they are emphasising their joint ambition to offer a sustainable, efficient, and high-quality alternative to road transport to and from the Port of Antwerp via inland waterways.