Port of Rotterdam Launches Quantum Forecasting Pilot with TNO and Delft University
April 23, 2019
Rotterdam’s Smart Port Vision Takes a Quantum Leap
Europe’s busiest port, the Port of Rotterdam, has long been known for its cutting-edge digital infrastructure and early adoption of AI and IoT. But in April 2019, it moved beyond conventional smart systems and into the quantum domain.
Working alongside Dutch innovation leaders TNO and the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), Rotterdam launched a feasibility pilot on how quantum computing might transform short- and mid-term logistics forecasting within the port’s operational environment.
This marked one of the earliest known instances where a live port ecosystem began integrating quantum algorithm research into its predictive systems — moving quantum from the lab into the harbor.
Why Quantum Forecasting at a Port?
Logistics at major container ports like Rotterdam involve constant high-stakes juggling. Daily challenges include:
Berth scheduling for incoming vessels
Crane and workforce allocation
Container unloading and routing
Anticipating ship delays due to weather, congestion, or customs
All of this happens against a backdrop of real-time uncertainty and massive data volume. Traditional forecasting algorithms work well — but begin to break down when too many variables interact or change rapidly.
The promise of quantum forecasting, particularly using quantum-enhanced machine learning and optimization techniques, lies in managing these complex multivariable scenarios with greater precision and adaptability.
The Consortium: TNO, TU Delft, and Port of Rotterdam Authority
The 2019 collaboration brought together three major Dutch institutions:
TNO: The applied science institute provided expertise in quantum algorithm modeling and simulation tools.
TU Delft: One of Europe’s top technical universities, it contributed researchers from its Quantum & Computer Engineering department and from QuTech, the university’s joint research center with TNO.
Port of Rotterdam Authority: The operational partner, opening up anonymized logistics data and digital twin access for real-world simulation of quantum models.
Together, they launched the Quantum Logistics Forecasting Pilot, focusing on two use cases:
Dynamic Berth Allocation Forecasting
Short-Term Container Routing Under Delay Conditions
Use Case 1: Optimizing Berth Allocation in Real Time
Berth allocation — determining which vessel docks where and when — is a delicate process. It must factor in ship size, arrival time, cargo type, crane availability, and changing external conditions (e.g., wind, tides, or strikes).
Rotterdam's team tested quantum-inspired models for real-time berth planning using optimization methods like the Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization (QUBO) framework.
While the team used classical simulators to mimic quantum behavior (since large quantum computers were not yet accessible in 2019), the study revealed promising improvements in responsiveness and flexibility during simulations with complex scheduling constraints.
Use Case 2: Adaptive Container Routing with Quantum Algorithms
The second pilot tested how quantum algorithms might assist in adaptive routing of containers within the port terminal environment — especially when a ship arrives late or unexpected delays hit the customs process.
By encoding logistics constraints into quantum-friendly data structures like tensor networks and running small test cases via TU Delft’s QuTech lab simulators, the researchers observed that quantum-enhanced methods could reoptimize container transfers across rail, truck, and barge modalities faster than traditional heuristics in simulation.
In congested scenarios, the models demonstrated potential to reduce container dwell time by an average of 8–12%, though further scaling was needed.
The Technical Backbone: Simulated Quantum Hardware and Hybrid Algorithms
Because full-scale fault-tolerant quantum hardware wasn’t yet available in 2019, the project utilized hybrid simulation environments that mimicked the behavior of gate-based quantum circuits.
Researchers employed variational quantum eigensolvers (VQE) and quantum annealing simulators to run optimization subroutines.
The tools included open-source platforms such as:
ProjectQ (developed by ETH Zurich)
Forest by Rigetti Computing
Qiskit by IBM, used in combination with TU Delft's custom port logistics libraries
The simulations were then benchmarked against traditional solutions developed in Python, R, and commercial logistics software to evaluate the computational edge — if any — offered by quantum logic.
European Quantum Flagship Ties and Regional Impact
This initiative aligned closely with the goals of the European Quantum Flagship, the €1 billion pan-EU program to advance quantum research and industry partnerships.
The Port of Rotterdam pilot was cited by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs as a model of how regional infrastructure hubs — like ports and airports — could serve as testbeds for next-generation computational technologies.
The Dutch government had already pledged €135 million toward national quantum research centers, and this logistics pilot helped showcase quantum’s potential for tangible societal value.
Challenges and Limitations Acknowledged
Despite the hype, the team remained cautious. The 2019 pilot was still in the proof-of-concept stage and faced notable challenges:
Current hardware couldn’t scale to full port complexity.
Quantum algorithms required fine-tuning and extensive preprocessing.
Interfacing quantum results with legacy port systems introduced integration hurdles.
Nonetheless, the work laid the groundwork for more advanced pilots expected post-2021 as quantum hardware matured.
Strategic Implications for Global Trade Hubs
If quantum-enhanced logistics forecasting proves viable, the implications for major ports — from Hamburg to Singapore to Los Angeles — are significant.
Improved forecasting of ship arrivals and port operations could cut down port congestion, reduce emissions from idling vessels, and improve intermodal throughput.
With increasing pressure on ports to become smarter, greener, and more resilient, quantum forecasting could become a competitive advantage.
Conclusion: Rotterdam Positions Itself as a Quantum-Ready Port
The Port of Rotterdam’s April 2019 move to explore quantum-enhanced logistics forecasting signaled a new phase in port innovation. By engaging TNO and TU Delft in a structured pilot, Rotterdam demonstrated that even the world’s busiest ports can experiment with advanced computation to improve agility and reduce uncertainty.
Though still in early stages, this work placed Rotterdam at the forefront of a global movement — where smart ports may soon be quantum ports.