Port of Rotterdam and QC Ware Explore Quantum Logistics: A Glimpse into the Future of Maritime Optimization

Europe’s Busiest Port Eyes Quantum for Next-Gen Optimization

As the world’s busiest port outside Asia, the Port of Rotterdam handles over 14 million TEUs annually. This level of volume demands complex coordination among container routing, vessel scheduling, crane operation, and customs clearance — all under pressure from sustainability mandates and tightening global trade timelines.

In October 2020, the Port Authority of Rotterdam confirmed exploratory engagements with QC Ware, a Silicon Valley–based quantum software firm, to explore how near-term quantum computing could improve port-wide optimization systems. The effort underscores a growing global shift: moving beyond legacy digital infrastructure to hybrid quantum-classical platforms that can address the logistical bottlenecks in seaport management.

Though still in the research phase, this exploration into quantum-enhanced decision models for maritime logistics is part of a broader initiative called Port Vision 2030, which focuses on making the Port of Rotterdam the smartest and most sustainable port in the world.

Key Optimization Targets

1. Berth Scheduling Optimization

Assigning berths to ships in real-time is an intensely complex operation. Ships often wait hours — or even days — at anchorage due to dynamic congestion, delays in cargo handling, or last-minute schedule disruptions. Traditional berth allocation models rely on heuristics and classical linear programming, which often cannot account for dozens of variables in real time.

QC Ware’s goal was to model these constraints as a Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization (QUBO) problem, then apply hybrid quantum algorithms to solve berth scheduling more efficiently under fluctuating port conditions.

2. Container Routing within the Port

Rotterdam’s sprawling port layout spans 42 kilometers and includes multiple terminals. Optimizing how containers are moved from ship to rail, barge, or truck — while reducing intra-port congestion and dwell time — is a key factor in overall efficiency.

Quantum optimization, particularly quantum approximate optimization algorithms (QAOA), offers a way to simulate thousands of routing permutations rapidly, allowing for dynamic path recalculations when unforeseen events (like equipment outages or traffic spikes) occur.

3. Energy Optimization for Port Equipment

Cranes, tugboats, and transport vehicles in Rotterdam are transitioning toward electric and hydrogen-powered variants. Using quantum machine learning (QML), port authorities hoped to improve energy scheduling to reduce consumption peaks and ensure better power distribution across the port’s smart grid.

QC Ware’s Role: Bridging Quantum Theory with Industrial Needs

QC Ware, founded in 2014, has positioned itself as a key player in early-stage quantum applications by focusing on compatibility between classical cloud environments and quantum backends like Google’s Sycamore, IBM Q, and Rigetti.

For Rotterdam, QC Ware proposed using Forge, its cloud-based platform that allows non-quantum experts to formulate optimization and machine learning problems that are solvable by quantum algorithms. Using real datasets from Rotterdam’s berth logs and internal simulations of crane schedules, QC Ware ran test batches to benchmark performance against traditional solvers.

Although the quantum circuits were limited in qubit count (due to 2020-era hardware limitations), the company used simulated annealing and hybrid solvers to produce comparable — and occasionally superior — results in time-sensitive routing tasks.

Digital Twin + Quantum Integration

A key part of this exploratory partnership was integration with the Port of Rotterdam’s existing digital twin platform, known as PortXchange. This system mirrors real-time operations at the port and integrates data from sensors, terminal operators, weather feeds, and shipping manifests.

By connecting QC Ware’s quantum optimization models with PortXchange APIs, the team conducted feasibility studies to examine how route recommendations or berth assignments generated by quantum models could be injected into the real-time system for validation.

This made Rotterdam one of the first ports globally to test quantum integration in a live simulation environment — albeit in a sandboxed test phase.

Why Quantum, and Why Now?

The motivation behind this early quantum exploration lies in both opportunity and necessity:

• Capacity Pressure: Rotterdam expects container throughput to increase by 20–30% over the next decade. Even a 1–2% gain in routing or crane efficiency can yield massive cost savings.

• Sustainability Goals: The EU’s Green Deal targets port decarbonization as a major focus area. Quantum could play a role in minimizing idling time, congestion, and inefficient crane use — all contributing to emissions.

• First-Mover Advantage: Rotterdam aims to set a precedent for smart port infrastructure. Engaging with emerging tech now ensures smoother adoption pathways when more mature quantum systems arrive in the late 2020s.

Industry Context: Other Ports Exploring Quantum

Rotterdam is not alone in this pursuit:

• Singapore’s PSA International began quantum pilot studies with Entropica Labs in mid-2020 to examine container stack optimization.

• Hamburg Port Authority has partnered with DLR (German Aerospace Center) to simulate quantum-enabled logistics planning.

• Los Angeles and Long Beach ports explored AI–quantum hybrid routing systems through academic partnerships.

This momentum signals growing recognition across the shipping industry: while quantum computing is not yet a plug-and-play solution, early experimentation can lead to major strategic and operational advantages.

Challenges and Limitations

Despite enthusiasm, both QC Ware and Rotterdam officials were realistic about the hurdles:

• Hardware Limitations: As of late 2020, gate-based quantum computers still suffered from noise and limited qubit depth, preventing large-scale modeling.

• Talent Shortage: There is a shortage of logistics professionals trained in quantum problem modeling. QC Ware addressed this by offering workshops and custom model templates through Forge.

• Model Translation: Translating berth or crane logic into QUBO form remains complex, often requiring iterative refinements and joint domain-expert–quantum-expert teams.

Still, the intent was clear: prepare now, iterate early, and build an internal competency before the quantum wave becomes mainstream.

Looking Ahead

Following this initial exploratory phase, Rotterdam officials noted plans to:

1. Expand quantum pilot scenarios to rail logistics integration and multi-terminal scheduling.

2. Collaborate with EU-wide research projects, potentially under the Quantum Flagship initiative, to co-develop use cases relevant to intermodal freight.

3. Continue working with QC Ware while assessing integration paths with other quantum software firms like Zapata Computing and Cambridge Quantum.

They are also exploring how to integrate post-quantum cryptography (PQC) into maritime digital communication systems — ensuring future resilience against quantum decryption threats in vessel and customs data exchanges.

Conclusion: Setting a Global Standard for Quantum Logistics

The Port of Rotterdam’s exploratory work with QC Ware represents a strategic, forward-thinking move to future-proof one of Europe’s largest trade hubs. While the quantum advantage for full-scale maritime logistics remains in development, Rotterdam’s early experiments lay the groundwork for scalable applications in the coming decade.

By integrating quantum optimization into digital twin systems, fostering cross-disciplinary teams, and aligning technology initiatives with environmental goals, Rotterdam is charting a path other ports may soon follow. If successful, quantum computing may not just help ships dock faster — it could redefine how the world’s goods are moved altogether.