Events > UK-Belgium Maritime Innovation Day 2025

UK-Belgium Maritime Innovation Day 2025

Securing our Maritime Infrastructure

27/05/2025

CHALLENGES

 
 

Blue Cluster is an independent and neutral industry-lead partner that supports Flemish companies in establishing partnerships within the maritime industry, knowledge centres and government institutions aimed at the development and promotion of economic activities at sea.

For example,  Blue Cluster is focussing on offshore wind as an important pillar in Europe’s energy transition ambitions to transform the North Sea into an important hub for offshore wind production. In addition to this energy transition,  Blue Cluster recognises that ports are indispensable logistical links between the sea and the European hinterland. For Blue Cluster, it is only logic that the Port of Antwerp-Bruges functions as a vital hub for maritime transport and offers British and global actors access to the European hinterland, important for trade and logistics in general, but even crucial for the economic stability of Europe.

In their most recent analyses of the threats they see facing the North Sea economic area, Blue Cluster distinguished 4 distinct challenges which impact frictionless economic exploitation of the maritime potential.  As part of their objectives, Blue Cluster is actively looking to engage with Belgian and foreign innovators who can address these four challenges:

Port Infrastructure: Physical Access

 
Securing access to systems and infratructure and discouraging unauthorized entry
 
As ports are a universe on their own, physical access and activities must be granted and observed in order to detect anomalies and intrusion. The Port of Antwerp-Bruges and their industrial entities are heavily interested in solutions that monitor access, detect the entry or exit of certain goods and substances, and allow port authorities, public security officers and private company security firms to track any illicit entry on their perimeters.

 

 

 

 

Maritime Cyber Security

 

Establishing resilient IT and OT-infrastructure, enhancing system security and preventing illegal activities

Cyberattacks within the Maritime Sector have been rapidly increasing over the years, resulting to big financial losses to businesses for recovery, regulatory sanctions, as well as collateral damages. The maritime sector, which until now was considered safe due to the lack of data connectivity and the isolated nature of ships in the sea, is showing a spectacular increase in cybersecurity breaches on operational technology today. The Port of Antwerp-Bruges and the shipping companies in Belgium are interested in finding out more about distinct maritime cyber  solutions which protect their assets at high seas.

Monitoring of Critical Infrastructure

 

Monitor assets and infrastructure at sea against sabotage 

Damage to energy pipelines and subsea fibre optic cables has placed the resilience and security of critical underwater infrastructure in the North Sea high on the agenda. The challenge Blue Cluster sees here is how we can translate data into strategic decisions to actually protect this infrastructure and have a beter situational awareness of the port environment. The Port of Antwerp-Bruges and the Belgian companies involved in the exploitation of these (green) energy sources are seeking innovative solutions to monitor and thus protect their infrastructure at high sea.

 

 

Maritime Telecommunications

 

Safeguarding data and confidential information from unauthorized access at sea

The cornerstone of building a safe line of communication between a ship and its handler starts with the technology available on the vessel. Considering the unique architecture and set-up of each vessel, ship owners, freight forwarders and port officials are looking for new and innovative telecom solutions to ascertain a free and protected flow of information between shore and their  assets miles away at sea.