Port of Rotterdam Explores Quantum Optimization to Streamline Global Shipping Flows
June 20, 2022
Europe’s largest and most technologically advanced port is taking its next digital leap. On June 20, 2022, the Port of Rotterdam Authority confirmed an exploratory partnership with QuTech—a joint initiative of Delft University of Technology and TNO, the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research—to test the use of quantum computing in optimizing global shipping operations.
For decades, the Port of Rotterdam has been a trailblazer in port digitalization, pioneering predictive analytics, AI-driven scheduling, and IoT-based logistics platforms. Yet even with these advances, the port’s leadership recognizes that traditional algorithms are hitting their limits in environments as complex and interdependent as modern maritime supply chains. This new initiative aims to evaluate whether quantum computing—an emerging field capable of processing combinatorial problems at unprecedented scale—can help ports manage uncertainty, congestion, and sustainability demands.
Why Rotterdam Is Betting on Quantum
Rotterdam is not just a port—it is the beating heart of European trade. Handling more than 14 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) annually and serving as a gateway to Germany, France, and beyond, its smooth operation is essential to continental supply chains. But with rising congestion, climate-driven weather volatility, and mounting pressure to decarbonize, even minor inefficiencies ripple across global networks.
Traditional berth scheduling, crane assignment, and container routing rely on linear programming or heuristic rules. These tools, while effective, become strained under variable conditions like unexpected vessel delays or sudden shifts in hinterland capacity. Quantum computing, by contrast, is designed for problems that require simultaneous optimization across thousands of variables—making it an attractive candidate for port logistics.
The Scope of the Quantum Logistics Initiative
The Port of Rotterdam’s quantum program initially focuses on three critical bottlenecks:
Berth Planning and Vessel Forecasting — determining which ships dock where and when, even when congestion and late arrivals occur.
Dynamic Container Transshipment — optimizing flows across rail, barge, and truck connections to minimize delays and reduce empty runs.
Energy-Aware Scheduling — aligning cargo movements and equipment usage with carbon reduction goals and electrification initiatives.
The pilot explores whether quantum algorithms can provide faster, more adaptive solutions than existing classical methods, particularly in scenarios with conflicting priorities and limited resources.
The Research Partners and Their Roles
The collaboration brings together three leading entities:
Port of Rotterdam Authority — supplying real logistics data, defining operational problems, and benchmarking algorithmic performance.
QuTech (TU Delft + TNO) — contributing expertise in quantum algorithm design, modeling tools, and access to quantum simulation infrastructure.
Quantum Internet Alliance (QIA) — exploring long-term applications of secure quantum communication for port data exchanges.
This partnership underscores the Dutch ecosystem’s strength in quantum R&D, positioning Rotterdam not only as a logistics hub but also as a living laboratory for next-generation computing.
From Smart Port to Quantum Port
The Port of Rotterdam is no stranger to cutting-edge technology. Its “Port Forward” innovation agenda has already deployed digital twins of infrastructure, AI-based vessel traffic management, and IoT-driven smart cranes. Quantum computing adds another layer of sophistication.
Several quantum use cases are under evaluation:
Quantum-Inspired Metaheuristics — improving scheduling flexibility during overlapping ship arrivals.
Quantum Machine Learning (QML) — predicting container dwell times more accurately than classical regression models.
Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA) — finding near-optimal berth and yard crane assignments.
The first tests are being run on Dutch-hosted cloud emulators and on early-access hardware from IBM Q and Rigetti.
Early Simulation Results
Preliminary findings suggest meaningful promise. In one benchmark scenario involving berth scheduling under congestion, QAOA achieved solutions close to optimal while consuming up to 20% less computational time than classical solvers like CPLEX or Gurobi. Simulations also showed potential berth utilization improvements of 3–5%, which could translate into shorter vessel turnaround times and reduced congestion.
Though these results are still early and based on simulations, they reinforce the idea that quantum tools may deliver measurable benefits in highly constrained, data-rich environments like ports.
Building Resilience Post-Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic revealed how fragile global logistics can be. Rotterdam, like many ports, faced vessel backlogs, capacity mismatches, and strained hinterland connections. Combined with ongoing geopolitical tensions and climate disruptions, the urgency to adopt more resilient systems has grown.
Quantum optimization is being framed as a complement to existing digital twins and AI, not a replacement. By allowing ports to simulate a wider range of scenarios and adapt in real-time, it could become a cornerstone of resilient logistics architecture.
Strategic and Policy Context
Rotterdam’s quantum program is part of a larger European movement.
The EU Quantum Flagship identifies logistics as a priority application area.
The Netherlands National Agenda for Quantum Technology (NAQT) lists smart logistics as one of its five pillars.
The Digital Transport & Logistics Forum (DTLF) encourages pilots that integrate quantum with AI, 5G, and cloud technologies.
This means Rotterdam’s initiative is not just about local efficiency—it is also about positioning Europe at the forefront of quantum-enabled logistics.
Technical Framework
The pilot is structured around a multi-layer architecture:
Problem Formalization — translating berth scheduling and container routing into mathematical forms suitable for quantum optimization (e.g., QUBO).
Algorithm Library — applying QAOA, Grover’s search, and quantum-enhanced Monte Carlo methods.
Simulation Backends — leveraging Qiskit and Rigetti Forest for workload emulation.
Integration Layer — connecting quantum outputs to Portbase, Rotterdam’s logistics information system.
If successful, these workflows could be scaled into hybrid cloud platforms that integrate classical and quantum computing seamlessly.
Expert Insights
Dr. Stephanie Wehner, Director at QuTech, explained:
“We’re just scratching the surface of what quantum can do in logistics. Ports are a perfect testing ground—dynamic, intermodal, and data-rich.”
Jeroen van der Hout, Lead Architect of Rotterdam’s Digital Twin initiative, added:
“Quantum optimization is a natural extension of our digital strategy. The complexity of shipping demands new tools, and quantum gives us a chance to stay ahead.”
Outlook and Next Steps
Looking ahead, the Port of Rotterdam Authority intends to:
Expand quantum research into energy optimization for port electrification.
Run pilot programs with terminal operators starting in 2023.
Explore quantum-secure communication channels via Quantum Delta NL.
Establish a “quantum sandbox” in its Digital Port Lab to test applications with broader industry partners.
These initiatives underline Rotterdam’s belief that quantum is not a futuristic luxury, but a long-term necessity for competitive ports.
Conclusion
The Port of Rotterdam’s partnership with QuTech and Delft University marks a milestone in the convergence of quantum computing and maritime logistics. By testing quantum algorithms in berth scheduling, intermodal routing, and carbon-aware operations, Rotterdam is positioning itself as the world’s first true “quantum port.”
While practical deployment may still be years away, the port’s proactive stance demonstrates that quantum computing is shifting from abstract research into applied logistics. If successful, the lessons learned in Rotterdam could ripple across global trade, setting a precedent for how the world’s busiest ports embrace the quantum era.