Antwerp Inland Navigation School 2026

Draft of the AINS 2026 program

AINS 2026

20/apr
21/apr
22/apr
23/apr
24/apr

Day topic
Introduction to IWT, fleet, market & crew
Policy en legislation
Economic research in IWT + excursion
Automation + excursion
Port and infrastructure

8:30 am
Daily registration, welcome and briefing  (prof. dr. Edwin van Hassel & Verberght)

9:00-10:00 am
Prof. dr. Edwin van Hassel, UAntwerp: Economic Research Overview in Inland Navigation and current projects
Prof. dr. Edwin Verberght: Inland Navigation Policy , Quadruple Helix and the institutional setting
drs. Felipé, UAntwerpen, Technological innovation in inland waterway transport
Excursion to SEAFAR
Drs. Juan Manuel Pulido Guzmán, UAntwerp, Data-driven synchromodality in Inland Waterway Transport

10:00-11:00 am
Karin De Schepper, INE, TEN-T and the European IWT 
Prof. dr. Wouter Verheyen, UAntwer, Labour law and Transport law, the case of the inland navigation
Prof. Dr. Igor Bačkalov, DST, Safety in the inland navigation
Brigadier General Katrien D'Hert, Assist Chief of Staff, Readiness and Operations Belgian Armed Forces, Military mobility of multimodal transport and dual-use of inland waterways

coffee break
Coffee break

11:15 am -12:15 pm
Dr. Norbert Kriedel, CCNR, European Market Observation
Prof. Dr. Marc De Decker: Mannheim Convention and social security of the Rhine
Kevin Lyen & Wouter De Geest, Rebelgroup,  Market studies, greening and competition in IWT
Dr. Marjan Beelen, CITBO, tanker market and infrastructure

Lunch and Networking break
Agora

14:00-15:00
Charline Daloze, CESNI, challenges of the Labour Market
Ms. Ingrid Vermeir, GO! De Scheepvaartschool & Mr. Jan Smalleganghe (MBA), STC group, crewing and competences in Flanders and the Netherlands
TBC , diversity, gender balance and inclusivity in IWT
Vincent Denis, BASF, innovation management in IWT
Mr. Paul Goris, Dry Bulk Terminals Group

Coffee break

15:15-16:15
Frank Hellebosch, CBO bv, Handbook of the IWT, perspective of investors and charteres
Hugues Van Honacker, IWT policy of the European Commission
Excursion to NK2 training center of IWT
 Evert Bulcke, CEO TRESCO nv, River Information Services and TGAIN
Panel: ir. Filip Boelaert (De Vlaamse Waterweg NV), Jurjen Limburg (Navan NV, Melina Lê-Tenbrock (Cabinet of the Minister) and Jacques Kerkhof (ETF, ABVV BTB)
What does the IWT presently and in the future need?

16:15-17:15
Mr. Jan D’haeyer (MBA), Shipit NV, De Vlaamse Waterweg Netwerk vzw, dry cargo market
Ms. Kim Mylle, ITB, Belgian IWT law
Eric Schrooyen, De Vlaamse Waterweg NV, Flemish projects on automation and European Policy
Closing reception

17:00 daily closing remarks and briefing for tomorrow (Edwin & Edwin)
Daily closing remarks and briefings for tomorrow (Edwin & Edwin)
Closing reception

Draft programme. TBC = to be confirmed