Port of Rotterdam Launches Quantum Optimization Lab with IBM to Cut Delays and Emissions

The Port of Rotterdam, Europe’s busiest maritime hub, has taken a decisive step toward the future of logistics with the launch of the Quantum Port Optimization Lab. Announced on October 2, 2025, in partnership with IBM Quantum and the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), the project aims to test how hybrid quantum computing can streamline vessel scheduling, reduce congestion, and lower carbon emissions.

For the world of freight and maritime logistics, this marks the first tangible step from research theory into operational reality.

A Digital Port Meets Quantum Potential

The Port of Rotterdam has long been Europe’s proving ground for emerging technologies — from artificial intelligence in predictive maintenance to digital twins replicating the entire harbor’s flow of ships and cargo. Now, its transition into quantum-enhanced logistics reflects a global movement to modernize critical infrastructure.

In announcing the program, Port CTO Arno Bonte called it “a foundational step toward data-driven, low-carbon port operations.” The collaboration uses IBM’s quantum cloud platform integrated with Rotterdam’s digital twin systems and berth management software.

The pilot focuses on dynamic berth scheduling, one of the most complex optimization problems in logistics. With over 30,000 ship calls per year, even a 1 percent improvement in scheduling can generate enormous savings in fuel, time, and carbon output.

How the System Work

IBM’s researchers, working with TU Delft’s quantum algorithms group, are applying Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithms (QAOA) to manage variables such as ship arrival times, cargo categories, weather conditions, and terminal power loads. The system combines real-time port data with AI forecasting models to predict vessel movements and allocate berths dynamically.

Instead of simulating each scenario sequentially, as classical computers do, the hybrid approach evaluates multiple options simultaneously — a leap that promises significant efficiency gains once scaled.

Targeting Lower Carbon Emissions

Sustainability sits at the center of the Quantum Port Optimization Lab’s goals. The Port Authority estimates that improving scheduling efficiency by 10 percent could eliminate up to 50,000 tons of CO₂ emissions annually, primarily through reduced vessel idling.

Dr. Laura van der Meer, senior researcher at TU Delft’s QuTech division, explains: “Quantum algorithms see the whole logistics puzzle at once. That global view allows for solutions classical systems can only approximate, meaning ships spend less time waiting and less fuel is burned.”

The project directly supports the European Green Deal’s 2030 targets for sustainable transport.

IBM’s Quantum Infrastructure

IBM’s role extends well beyond hardware. The company provides cloud access to its 1,000-qubit Condor processor, introduced earlier in 2025, via its Qiskit Runtime platform. This allows Rotterdam’s data engineers to run optimization tests in near real time, leveraging both quantum and classical systems.

Local Dutch startups — including QuantumDelta NL and Qblox — are supporting the integration layer that translates operational port data into quantum-readable input formats, illustrating how quantum innovation is moving from the laboratory into commercial environmentss.

Economic Significance

Congestion costs the global maritime industry an estimated $20 billion per year. The success of Rotterdam’s experiment could reshape the economics of global trade.

Potential benefits include:

• Reduced demurrage and waiting costs for shipping lines.

• Greater reliability across multimodal connections (rail, barge, and trucking).

• Predictive scheduling that minimizes energy demand spikes at terminals.

Analysts already describe Rotterdam’s approach as a blueprint for quantum logistics infrastructure, one that other ports — from Singapore to Los Angeles — are closely monitoring.

Challenges to Overcome

Quantum computing remains an emerging field. Today’s hardware still experiences noise and limited qubit coherence, restricting large-scale problem solving. Rotterdam’s pilot mitigates this by running quantum-inspired algorithms on classical systems until hardware matures.

Another major obstacle is data standardization. A port’s ecosystem involves carriers, terminal operators, customs agencies, and freight forwarders, each with distinct digital systems. For quantum optimization to succeed, all parties must feed high-quality, interoperable data into the model.

Nevertheless, early tests are promising. The hybrid system has already achieved up to 8 percent faster optimization results compared with traditional heuristic scheduling.

Looking Ahead

The Quantum Port Optimization Lab will expand its scope in 2026 to include energy logistics, particularly optimizing liquefied natural gas and hydrogen terminal operations.

By 2030, the Port of Rotterdam envisions becoming the world’s first Quantum-Ready Port — where berth scheduling, customs coordination, predictive maintenance, and energy systems are all secured and optimized through quantum algorithms.

IBM Quantum’s European director, Bas Schouten, stated: “This isn’t just about computation — it’s about re-architecting logistics for a low-carbon, data-driven era.”

Global Industry Context

Quantum logistics is quickly becoming a competitive differentiator. Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority, Dubai’s DP World, and the Port of Los Angeles have all initiated feasibility studies into quantum optimization. Yet Rotterdam stands apart in its comprehensive ecosystem — combining academia, industry, and government policy.

The World Maritime University recently cited Rotterdam’s lab as “a functional prototype for integrating quantum computing into global supply chain infrastructure.”

Conclusion

The Quantum Port Optimization Lab demonstrates how ports — once symbols of industrial age logistics — are becoming testbeds for the quantum era. By merging IBM’s quantum computing resources with TU Delft’s research and Rotterdam’s operational infrastructure, the initiative turns theory into measurable efficiency.

If successful, it could redefine the standards for how ports schedule, power, and secure global trade. In the race toward smarter, greener logistics, the Port of Rotterdam has positioned itself firmly at the helm of a quantum-driven future.