Port of Rotterdam Explores Quantum Digital Twins for Container Flow Optimization

Rotterdam's Quantum Leap in Port Logistics

The Port of Rotterdam has long stood as a beacon of innovation in maritime logistics, known for early adoption of automation, AI, and digital twins. In September 2021, it took another pioneering step—exploring the integration of quantum computing and quantum communication into its smart logistics infrastructure.

The initiative is part of a broader program under the SmartPort Foundation, involving multiple partners across academia, logistics providers, and quantum hardware developers. The aim is clear: to demonstrate how quantum-enhanced digital twins—virtual replicas of container terminals and flows—can be used to make smarter, real-time logistics decisions.

Why Quantum in Port Logistics?

Container ports are high-complexity environments. Each vessel brings thousands of containers that must be sorted, routed, and loaded or unloaded in precise sequences, all while coordinating trucks, cranes, trains, and inland shipping.

Traditional digital twins already simulate these operations using classical computing. However, as container volume and operational complexity increase, classical simulations encounter combinatorial bottlenecks. Quantum computing offers a potential breakthrough.

Quantum Optimization Potential:

• Container yard slotting: Minimizing crane travel distances and container reshuffles using combinatorial quantum solvers.

• Berth planning: Solving multi-objective optimization for vessel scheduling and berth assignment.

• Traffic congestion management: Real-time prediction and rerouting for trucks using hybrid quantum models.

These use cases align well with quantum annealing, tensor networks, and variational algorithms, which are suitable for solving NP-hard optimization challenges common in port logistics.

The Quantum Digital Twin Architecture

Rotterdam’s prototype digital twin merges three key components:

1. Data integration layer: Pulls real-time data from container management systems (CMS), terminal operating systems (TOS), crane telemetry, weather feeds, and vessel arrival schedules.

2. Quantum optimization engine: Developed with support from TU Delft’s QuTech group, the engine translates key decision variables (e.g., container locations, truck arrival patterns, crane schedules) into QUBO (Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization) models for quantum processing.

3. Quantum-secure communication overlay: Using quantum key distribution (QKD) via Q*Bird’s entangled photon protocols, the system ensures secure transmission of sensitive logistics and routing data between port nodes.

Project Objectives and Scope

Launched in Q3 2021, the initial goal of the project was to evaluate:

• Feasibility of quantum solvers in container planning.

• Latency and accuracy of hybrid digital twin responses during peak port operations.

• Cyber-resilience improvements using QKD for logistics communications.

• Simulation fidelity compared to traditional predictive tools.

The first testbed was implemented in a controlled simulation environment emulating the Euromax Terminal, one of the most automated sections of the port.

Early Results and Insights

By late September 2021, the Port of Rotterdam Authority and partners reported the following outcomes from their simulations:

• A 9–11% reduction in average crane travel distance, when using quantum-optimized container slotting versus traditional heuristics.

• Berth scheduling improvements that reduced vessel waiting times by up to 7% under congested conditions.

• Increased resilience against schedule perturbations due to the probabilistic nature of quantum solutions allowing for multiple near-optimal paths.

Perhaps most critically, the introduction of quantum-safe encryption protocols showed no significant latency penalty, opening doors for commercial deployment of QKD in a high-throughput, latency-sensitive logistics environment.

Partners Driving the Innovation

TU Delft and QuTech

The quantum optimization layer was spearheaded by researchers from TU Delft’s Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, and Computer Science and its joint research institute QuTech, which focuses on scalable quantum computing infrastructure. Their role included:

• Translating logistics challenges into quantum representations.

• Developing hybrid algorithms to run on both quantum simulators and early quantum processors.

• Coordinating modeling workshops with port logistics engineers to tune objectives and constraints.

Q*Bird

A startup founded out of Delft, Q*Bird specializes in quantum communication systems using entangled photon pair distribution. Their QKD protocols formed the secure transport layer for logistics command signals across the port’s network.

The company also piloted an early implementation of quantum network nodes, anticipating a future port-wide quantum network infrastructure.

Broader Strategic Alignment

This initiative fits into larger national and European efforts:

• NL Quantum Delta: A €615 million Dutch initiative to advance quantum computing and communication, of which TU Delft and Q*Bird are members.

• EU Quantum Flagship: Encourages cross-industry pilots for quantum application in logistics and infrastructure.

• Rotterdam’s Port Vision 2030: Prioritizes digital twins, automation, and secure, scalable data infrastructure for growing global trade.

By aligning with these programs, the Port of Rotterdam ensures access to funding, research networks, and policy guidance for sustainable scaling.

Challenges and Remaining Questions

Despite promising results, the September 2021 report also flagged technical and operational challenges:

• Solver calibration: Quantum algorithms must be tightly tuned to avoid inefficient or unstable outputs in real-time simulations.

• Hardware maturity: While QUBO models were tested on simulators and early-stage quantum annealers, current quantum processors remain limited in scale.

• Workforce skills gap: Port engineers require upskilling to understand and trust quantum-enhanced system suggestions.

As part of the next phase, the Port plans to develop training modules and graphical interpretability layers to bridge the human-machine interface challenge.

Looking Ahead: Scaling Quantum in Maritime Logistics

The Port of Rotterdam aims to expand the quantum digital twin project through:

• Real-world pilot integration with select terminals by 2023.

• Exploring quantum co-processing with AI-powered predictive maintenance systems.

• Participation in a broader Quantum Internet testbed being developed in South Holland.

These steps mark Rotterdam’s intent to not only digitize, but quantize, its future logistics operations.

Conclusion: A Model for Global Ports

This September 2021 milestone showcases how quantum computing and communication can offer actionable gains in port logistics. The Port of Rotterdam, backed by academic and quantum tech expertise, has laid the groundwork for a new paradigm: quantum-enhanced infrastructure optimization.

If successful at scale, this model could influence quantum logistics adoption in other major ports—Singapore, Los Angeles, Shanghai—positioning Europe at the forefront of quantum transformation in global trade.