ECG — 2025-01-24
News from ECG
When ECG – the Association of European Vehicle Logistics – gathered the Quality & Maritime and Ports Working Groups at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, one of the discussions was particularly urgent: fires at automotive compounds and onboard ships in ports.
The first joint meeting of the Quality and Maritime & Ports Working Groups took place in Zeebrugge on January 21-22. The interest in this joint gathering stemmed from the overlapping topics, such as BEV transport, fires on board ships and the transport of cars in containers, among others. The event was supported by ECG member and local host Port of Antwerp-Bruges, as well as long-time ECG partner C.A.R. Consulting.
A key topic discussed at the event was the challenge of managing fires on board ships and at automotive compounds. Torben Stadtaus presented an exercise held at the Port of Emden, which simulated a fire on a ship at berth and focused on lessons learned. Automotive maritime compounds can engage with local fire brigades to establish procedures and organise drills, which could then form the basis for developing best practices. Further information on this initiative, including the publication of a document from the German delegation to the International Maritime Organization, will be available later this year, and ECG will closely follow these developments. ECG’s Quality Group will also work on more detailed guidelines for vehicle loading and handling in terminals this year, aimed at improving safety and boosting confidence in the sector.
Timo Pasila of C.A.R. Consulting provided an update on the development of AI technology for digital vehicle inspections, on which ECG published a document in 2022. The technology has significantly improved over the past few years, but, as Timo emphasized, the results will never be 100% accurate. He noted that many companies, who were initially enthusiastic about this technology, had hoped it would detect all damage and replace human inspection. The discussion then shifted to what percentage of errors would be acceptable for automatic inspections versus visual inspections. According to Timo Pasila, his solution currently offers a 75% confidence level, which he believes is comparable to human inspection.
Szilvi Kiss, Senior Research & Project Manager, and Jovana Vancevska, Research & Project Manager, were both pleased to see such a strong turnout for the first joint meeting of the two Working Groups. The event highlighted how valuable these operation-focused gatherings are for members, partners, and OEMs alike.
The evening before, the Mayor of Bruges and Vice Chairman of the Port Authority Antwerp-Bruges hosted a reception at the historic Bruges Town Hall. In his speech, Frank Schnelle, Executive Director of ECG, emphasized the crucial need for collaboration between political leaders and businesses. He highlighted that investments in decarbonized transport must go hand in hand: “One of the most critical tasks in the coming years will be the transformation to decarbonized transport. This transformation will reshape the automotive logistics industry—both on land and at sea. To succeed, we need increased investment in infrastructure. Political leaders will play a pivotal role in ensuring that ports remain competitive and ready for the future.”