About us
As an affiliate of Port of Antwerp-Bruges, the Flemish Government and Centrale des Employeurs du Port d’Anvers (CEPA), APEC is the international training centre of the Flemish ports and organises port courses since 1977, transferring port knowledge and expertise among port communities. More than 19.000 port professionals from all over the world had the opportunity to join one of our courses.
APEC receives its participants in the iconic Port House in Antwerp, with on-site visits in the port platforms of Antwerp-Bruges, Ghent and Brussels. APEC engages in its programmes experts from Flemish ports, the private sector and universities.
Why APEC?
APEC port training centre equips port professionals with the knowledge and expertise required to excel in the maritime industry. We provide comprehensive training programmes, access to industry experts and networking opportunities to enhance the skills and careers of our participants, building ports of the future.
APEC delivers port-specific trainings and professional development in the maritime industry, helping our participants to stay ahead of the curve and achieve success in an ever-evolving port environment. We create a community of well-trained, highly-skilled port professionals, who are equipped to drive efficiency, sustainable growth and innovation in the ports and maritime sector.
Founded
Alumni
Experts
Our values
Connection
APEC organizes port training programmes online, in Antwerp and worldwide. Trough our international port community, you not only stay connected to the latest developments in the port industry, but you also build a lasting network with other port professionals and with the larger port and maritime industry.
Daring
We are dedicated to offering high-quality and current port training programmes. We are constantly seeking out new and innovative methods for imparting knowledge and skills. We push port professionals in their personal and professional development, stimulating them to adapt and excel in their roles in the port industry.
Sustainable impact
We build sustainable partnerships worldwide, focusing on a practical approach with tangible results in line with our ambitious mission. With common sense and a critical eye, we build smooth long- lasting global alliances.
Our offer
Courses in Antwerp
Combi courses
Tailor-made courses
Port Endeavor Game
“The course helped in gaining insights of the working of Port of Antwerp-Bruges International as a Landlord Port, with many learnings for us at JNPA – Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority which is now 100% Landlord Port of India.
Ambika Singh, Senior Marketing Manager, JNPA- Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, India
Visit to the Terminals at Antwerp, Zeebrugge, Nova Natie, Katoen Natie, NorthSea Port and knowing about their commercial strategies were truly enriching.
The session on sustainability combined with the Port endeavour game added to the learning in a fun way.
Being part of the 21 member group from 13 different countries helped in not only learning about the various global ports they represent but exchanging ideas along with knowing them and their cultures was indeed insightful.”
Port Business Analysis, Development and Marketing, combi course, 2023
“Du 19 au 30 juin 2023, j’ai pris part à une formation organisée par l’ APEC dont le thème portait sur la Gestion et Stratégie Portuaire.
Durant cette formation, nous avons eu des cours théoriques et des descentes sur le terrain à travers les visites des ports d’Anvers et de Zeebruges ainsi que les terminaux (DP WORLD, ICO, NIKE) .
Ce que j’ai beaucoup apprécié durant cette formation, ce sont les échanges très instructifs pendant les cours avec les formateurs et participants venant de divers pays.”
Mireille Nkwei, Chef de Service du Contrôle de Gestion, Conseil National des Chargeurs du Cameroun
Gestion et Stratégie Portuaire, cours à Anvers, 2023
“I applied for the APEC Smart Port Technologies course to better understand the technologies being implemented in ports around the world. Even though the course had to be conducted virtually due to the pandemic, it far exceeded my expectations. Over seven weeks, the schedule allowed me to be flexible in meeting work deadlines, whilst attending the online sessions. I would highly recommend the training to anyone interested in the future of work, technology and improving port operations.”
Maxine Jacob, Engineer, Transnet Group Capital, South-Africa
Smart Ports Technologies, Online, 2020
“Having attended the two-week of Health, Safety and Security Course conducted by APEC was anunforgettable experience,the best I have ever had in my life. I have learned so much about how tomanage all important aspects of health and safety for personnel who work at the port, includingsecurity on the vessel, its loads, its passengers, and the port terminal.
In additions, as there were several participants coming from different countries in the world and ourvisit to Port of Antwerp, North Sea Port , and Port of Zebrugge, we have widened our knowledge byunderstanding deeper regarding international cultures presented viaa warm welcome, interactionand good collaboration.
I would like to convey my gratitude to the committee who have arranged the schedule in a very neatmanner for the whole two weeks. You are very good and patient instructors who are openly willing toanswer so many questions from the participants.
In the future, I hope the cooperation with APEC would be improved and be more intensive, so thatyoung generations from Indonesia and other countries would get a valuable opportunity to widentheir knowledge anddevelop a better international class relationship and network.”
Bondan Winarno, Vice President of HSSE, PT Pelabuhan Indonesia III(Persero)
Health, Safety & Security, Port Course in Antwerp, 2020
“The course was great to put in context the activities that we carry out in our port; the new insights will help us to review what to adjust for further improvement. The most exciting topics were those in which the implementation of technologies for renewable energy generation came up for discussion, raising questions about the applicability in the different ports that we were participating. Also, the presentation of the sustainability objectives provided a useful overview that will help to establish goals and efforts.”
Rociela Molina, Head of Quality and Environmental Management, Port of Veracruz, Mexico
Port Environmental Management & Sustainability, Online, 2020
“I attended the Port Logistics 2022. It started with 4 weeks online program and later continued with the physical session in the Port of Antwerp, Belgium.
Umar Faruq Jamaluddin, Senior Manager – Project Integration, Port of Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia
The program was attended by people from 13 countries across 3 continents.
The programme amazed me, especially during the physical session in Antwerp.
I grew my knowledge and expanded connections throughout the world, and I really hope that we can continue to be in contact.”
Port Logistics, combi course, 2022
Our subsidiaries
PTI – Port Training Institute
Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport Beside gate No. 27 – outside customes area, Alexandria Port.
P.O. Box 123, Sidi Gaber, Alexandria (21311), Egypt.
GAPEC (China)
Guangzhou-Antwerp Port Training & Consultancy Co., Ltd
No. 406, Yanjiang East Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou
JNPA (India)
Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, 1502, Express Tower, Nariman Point ; Mumbai – 400021
Our network
Port of Antwerp-Bruges is a major port, logistics and industrial hub in Europe, and a driver of the circular economy and energy transition. with more than 300 liner services and 800 connections to more than 800 destinations, thereby ensuring worldwide connectivity. Every year, around 290 million tonnes of international maritime cargo is handled in the port, and an added value of more than 21 billion EUR is generated. More than 164,000 people contribute to its success story, and as such, the port is an engine for sustainable growth for the Belgian and European economy.
The Flemish and Federal Governments provide APEC with a legislative, executive and judicial framework and grant subsidies to APEC programmes.
OCHA is the training centre for blue-collar port workers in the port of Antwerp and belongs to CEPA, a cooperative organization of private port operators.
OCHA has a long tradition in maritime port operations and skill training for port workers (“dockers”) in Belgium and provides over 450 training sessions in different disciplines annually. In collaboration with APEC, OCHA offers training activities at their Antwerp facilities, and at its clients’ premises in Belgium or abroad.