APEC

What APEC does

APEC (Antwerp/Flanders Port Training Center) is a non-profit organization (n.p.o.) under Belgian law, founded in 1977 and headquartered in Antwerp, Belgium. It operates as a daughter entity of Port of Antwerp-Bruges, the second-largest port in Europe, and serves as a specialized professional training center for the global port and maritime industry. APEC offers courses in port management, strategic masterplanning, port logistics, container terminal operations, dredging technologies, smart port technologies, sustainability, and health/safety/security, targeting port authorities, terminal operators, shipping companies, and maritime professionals worldwide.

The organization delivers training through three core formats: two-week intensive in-person courses in Antwerp (60 hours of instruction including site visits to active port terminals), blended "combi" courses combining four weeks of online sessions with a one-week live program in Antwerp, and tailor-made courses delivered globally for specific organizational clients. APEC's distinctive technology asset is the Port Endeavor Game, a sustainability simulation co-developed with the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) and UNCTAD TRAINFORTRADE, in which participants assume port executive roles and make decisions around UN Sustainable Development Goals within budget constraints. The curriculum covers AI, IoT, big data, and cyber resilience as taught topics within the Smart Ports course, but these are subject-matter areas rather than proprietary APEC AI capabilities.

APEC's business model is professional services-based, generating revenue through per-participant course fees of €5,000-€5,950. The organization ran 13 standard port courses plus 13 tailor-made courses in 2023, serving named clients including Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (India), Transnet Group Capital (South Africa), PT PELINDO III (Indonesia), Port of Veracruz (Mexico), Ghana Maritime Authority, and Port of Tanjung Pelepas (Malaysia). Alumni exceed 20,000 professionals across dozens of countries, forming a lifelong network reinforced by a dedicated alumni community platform. Marketing occurs through the company's website, email newsletters, LinkedIn, Facebook, and partnerships with IAPH, UNCTAD, Antwerp Management School, OCHA, DEME Group, and Jan De Nul Group.

Name

APEC

Legal name

APEC Antwerp/Flanders Port Training Center n.p.o.

Website

https://apecporttraining.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

APEC (Antwerp/Flanders Port Training Center) is a 1977-founded Belgian non-profit and daughter entity of Port of Antwerp-Bruges that delivers professional training courses in port management, logistics, sustainability, and smart port technologies to port authorities, terminal operators, and maritime professionals worldwide, with over 20,000 alumni globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime and Port Management Training

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519), Apprenticeship Training (611513)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Maritime Safety, Security & Compliance (STCW/ISM/ISPS) (EDAOANAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marine Engineering & Engine Room Operations (EDAOANAB), Navigation, Seamanship & Offshore Operations (EDAOANAE)

Keywords

• Port management training
• Maritime education
• Supply chain training
• Port professional development
• Dredging technologies

Headquarters

HQ city

Antwerp

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Port Training Programs: APEC generates revenue through fee-based training programs delivered in various formats including courses in Antwerp, combi courses (online + in-person), and tailor-made courses delivered globally. Course fees range from €5,000 to €5,950 per participant.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

APEC (Antwerp/Flanders Port Training Center) is a professional training organization delivering fee-based port and supply chain management courses for port professionals worldwide. It offers in-person courses in Antwerp (two-week intensive programs), blended combi courses (online + live sessions), and tailor-made custom programs delivered globally. It also offers the Port Endeavor Game, a gamified sustainability simulation co-developed with IAPH and UNCTAD TRAINFORTRADE.

Product overview

APEC (Antwerp/Flanders Port Training Center) is a professional port training organization offering a portfolio of courses and educational programs. The core offering includes general port courses, courses in Antwerp (2-week intensive in-person format), combi courses (blended online + in-person), and tailor-made programs. Supporting the training portfolio is the Port Endeavor Game, a gamified sustainability simulation. Individual courses cover specific domains including Smart Ports (digital technologies), Container Terminal Management, Dredging Technologies, and Port Sustainability and Resilience. The programs are designed for port professionals worldwide seeking to enhance their knowledge and skills in port operations, management, and sustainability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Port Endeavor Game: An interactive sustainability game developed in partnership with IAPH and UNCTAD TRAINFORTRADE, designed to educate participants on sustainability challenges in the maritime industry through a fictional port management simulation.

Products and services

• Courses in Antwerp Two-week full-time intensive in-person training programs in Antwerp, Belgium, comprising 60 hours of instruction including academic lectures, hands-on workshops, and visits to Flemish port areas. Designed for port professionals seeking deep practical exposure to Port of Antwerp-Bruges operations.
• Combi Courses Blended learning programs combining four weeks of online sessions with one week of live sessions in Antwerp, including port area visits and company tours. Built for port professionals worldwide who need flexible delivery while still gaining practical on-site exposure.
• Tailor-Made Courses Customized training programs delivered in Belgium or abroad, developed jointly with clients to address specific organizational challenges. Draws on expert trainers from Port of Antwerp-Bruges and the wider Flemish port community.
• Port Endeavor Game Interactive gamified sustainability simulation in which participants assume the role of port executives managing a fictional port, making decisions on UN Sustainable Development Goals within budget constraints. Co-developed with the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) and UNCTAD TRAINFORTRADE and facilitated by APEC experts.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20,000+ port professionals trained globally
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Port of Antwerp-Bruges InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPEC is a daughter company of Port of Antwerp-Bruges, leveraging the port's expertise and facilities for training programs. Experts from the port community provide lectures and practical workshops.
• International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIAPH partnered with APEC and UNCTAD TRAINFORTRADE to develop and improve the Port Endeavor Game. IAPH represents 160 member ports and 120 port-related businesses in 87 countries.
• UNCTAD TRAINFORTRADEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in developing the Port Endeavor Game. UNCTAD TRAINFORTRADE focuses on developing skills, knowledge and capacities through innovative development approaches and has trained more than 18,000 participants.
• Mercy ShipsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHumanitarian maritime organization partnered with APEC for port training initiatives.
• OCHA (Training Centre for Dockworkers)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPEC cooperates with OCHA to provide specific skill training seminars for dock workers using simulators at the training center. Practice-oriented trainings on port equipment and operations.
• DEME GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Belgian dredging company contributing to the Dredging Technologies course with engaging activities, inspiring field excursions, and dredger simulators.
• Jan De Nul GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor Belgian dredging company contributing to the Dredging Technologies course with engaging activities, inspiring field excursions, and dredger simulators.
• Antwerp Management SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with APEC for the International Port Strategy course to provide comprehensive understanding of the global port industry as a key component of the global value chain.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Antwerp Management School: Belgian business school partner of APEC delivering the International Port Strategy course. Comparable academic credentialing and Antwerp location, with overlapping port management curriculum but broader business school positioning.
• Maersk Training: Commercial maritime and offshore training provider offering port equipment, safety, and operational courses with simulator-based delivery. Comparable to APEC's OCHA dockworker training partnership focus, but with stronger commercial scaling and a broader course catalogue.

Direct peers

• UNCTAD TRAINFORTRADE: UN programme delivering trade and port management training to over 18,000 participants globally, focused on developing-country capacity building. Direct peer — and also an existing APEC partner via the Port Endeavor Game — competing for the same emerging-market port authority training budgets.
• Lloyd's Maritime Academy: Commercial maritime training provider offering professional development courses, certificates, and diplomas in port management, shipping, and maritime law. Closely comparable business model — paid professional training targeted at working maritime professionals — and competes for the same enterprise training budgets.
• International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH): Global trade association representing 160 member ports across 87 countries, with active training and capacity-building programmes including the World Port Sustainability Program. Co-developer of the Port Endeavor Game with APEC, and a direct peer competing for member port training engagement.

Broad incumbents

• DNV Training: Global classification society offering extensive maritime and energy training programmes covering port operations, safety, and digitalization. Direct overlap on technical port training content, with broader maritime industry reach and stronger digital delivery infrastructure than APEC.
• World Maritime University: IMO-founded postgraduate maritime university in Malmö, Sweden, offering degree programs in port management, maritime affairs, and shipping. Directly comparable to APEC's port training mission but at the degree-bearing academic level, representing both a competitor and adjacent credential option for APEC's target audience.
• International Maritime Organization (IMO): UN specialized agency that runs maritime safety, security, and environmental training programmes for member states. Overlaps with APEC on maritime compliance and HSSE training, but operates at intergovernmental treaty level rather than individual professional upskilling.

Regional players

• Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers: UK-based professional body offering accredited qualifications in shipping, ports, and logistics. Comparable target audience of maritime professionals but focused on shipping and chartering rather than port-side operations, and operates primarily through UK-headquartered networks.
• Port Management Association of West and Central Africa: Regional port industry association providing training and capacity building for West and Central African port authorities. Comparable mission in port professional development and overlapping customer base (Centre Trainmar de Dakar, etc.), but geographically focused on PMAWCA member countries.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/apec_training
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/apec-antwerp-flanders-port-training-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about APEC