Drones Accelerate Chemical Sample Transport in Antwerp Port

Antwerp (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – At the Port of Antwerp, drones from Helicus now deliver chemical samples in 8 minutes, speeding unloading, improving safety, and meeting customer requirements, says ADPO’s Filip De Dycker.

As VRT News reported, drones are now helping speed up unloading operations at the Port of Antwerp by carrying chemical samples from ships directly to the terminal’s laboratories. Every ship transporting chemicals must provide a sample before it can start unloading. Filip De Dycker from the ADPO chemical terminal explained that the shipments involve very large quantities, and clients want to be certain that they receive exactly what they ordered.

What role do drones play in speeding up chemical transport at the Port of Antwerp?

Officials mentioned that analysing these samples has traditionally taken time and could delay unloading. De Dycker said that faster sample analysis not only meets customer expectations but also reduces waiting times for ships. 

“Taking a sample on board doesn’t take long,”

says Thierry Guffens of the laboratory.

“We analyse them as quickly as possible, but the transport can take a long time.”

Chemical samples at the Port of Antwerp are still transported by van, which often slows down operations. Mikael Shamim of the drone company Helicus said the route takes about half an hour in smooth traffic.

“Anyone who drives around Antwerp knows it can easily take an hour to an hour and a half,”

he explained. 

A drone flight can cover the same distance in just 8 minutes. Shamim added that this saves a significant amount of time, allowing customers to receive products faster and cargo ships to spend less time at the dock.

“This is a huge saving.”

Mikael Shamim of Helicus

Flying chemical cargo by drone also improves safety. The drones operate independently on pre-programmed routes. Their flights are monitored from The Beacon, a control centre in Antwerp, and operators intervene only when necessary. 

“Of course, we have to meet very strict safety requirements,”

says Shamim.

“Because we only take one load, it’s also safer than a van containing different chemicals from different ships.”

The Port of Antwerp has been a key European trading hub since the 16th century. Its chemical industry expanded rapidly in the 20th century and became one of the continent’s largest by the 1970s. In 2000, European regulations required all chemical shipments to submit samples before unloading. 

Rising cargo volumes and traffic congestion caused delays in sample analysis by 2015. In 2023, the port began testing drones to transport chemical samples. By early 2025, drone trials succeeded, cutting delivery times from up to 90 minutes by van to just 8 minutes.