UAntwerp and Port of Antwerp testing innovative technology for autonomous shipping / Automated navigation is the future of inland shipping. It may sound futuristic, but innovative research carried out by UAntwerp and the Port of Antwerp is bringing us one step closer to this dream. The key: 3D sonar sensors, inspired by the way bats see the world. 'In 2019, over 42% of all goods entered or left the port of Antwerp via inland waterways', says port alderman Annick De Ridder. 'In other words, inland shipping is crucial if we want to ensure the accessibility of our city and our port. By focusing on technology such as unmanned navigation, we want to further increase both the market share and the competitiveness of inland shipping.'