Port of Antwerp has announced the launch of Europe's first end-to-end cargo LoRaWAN-based cargo temperature monitoring service.

Europe's second-largest container hub said in collaboration with, Foodcareplus an integrated international logistics provider offering specialty services in the food transportation industry,  Dockflow —  the world's first integrated logistics enablement platform, and cargo monitoring solutions provider, TrakAssure, announced the service which offers cargo temperature condition monitoring service for logistics assets and cargo, providing exception alerting solutions for cargoes for both shippers and 3PLs.

The port noted that the solution utilises existing LoRaWAN infrastructure at the port, where TrakAssure monitors are installed at load location and data streams into Dockflow's servers via API, allowing it to be shared with relevant stakeholders in the cold chain.

"This solution will allow us to monitor and manage higher volumes by exception, allowing us to devote fewer man-hours to this particular task, thereby servicing our customer base with better quality," said Steve Alaerts, director at Foodcareplus.

Michiel Valee, co-founder at Dockflow said this will allow them to "manage by exception" based on real-time data and share it through their enablement platform — allowing them to dispatch resources as required to pay particular attention to containers that display temperature variations.

"Cargo monitoring solutions have been around for a long time, and many of the processes for retrieving data loggers are time-consuming and labour-intensive, presenting only rear-view visibility with many hidden costs," said Don Miller, board member at TrakAssure.

"We expect the first mover Port of Antwerp to become a model for many more global ports offering these services to increase volumes and offer better quality service to the intermodal community," Miller added.

Meanwhile, Stef Wilrycx of Port of Antwerp noted that the goal of the gateway is to grow volumes while providing a "meaningful impact" on its customers.

"By enabling network connectivity at the port, we allow our ecosystem to develop and engage while sharing data in an open and transparent environment that fosters higher quality through innovation."

Port of Antwerp noted that the team is now moving to the commercial phase of the project and will deploy many thousands of monitors on cargo passing through the port within the next 12 months.