Pharma

When it comes to shipping cargo, it’s hard to think of a more challenging type than life science & healthcare products. Port of Antwerp-Bruges is the first maritime port in the world to operate its entire pharmaceutical supply chain according to the European Good Distribution Practice (GDP) rules, thus ensuring an unbroken cold chain.

Logistics & supply chain Cargo Containers

The world’s first GDP compliant port

Port of Antwerp-Bruges is the first maritime port in the world to operate its entire logistics chain according to the European Good Distribution Practice (GDP) rules. This quality system ensures that the quality of pharmaceutical products such as medication, blood plasma, vaccines and medical materials is maintained during the distribution process. Moreover, the port offers 63 000 m² of GDP-certified warehouse space for storage between both 2-8°C and 15-20°C.

When it comes to shipping cargo, it’s hard to think of a more challenging type than life science & healthcare products.

The green revolution in practice

Caring for people with severe autoimmune and neurological diseases: that is the main focus of Belgian biopharmaceutical company UCB. Traditionally, pharmaceutical companies chose airfare to move their precious products. But over the last couple of years, a major shift took place. New reefer technology and extensive efforts in handling and storing procedures have made ports like Port of Antwerp-Bruges more attractive. Discover in the case study what major effects of a modal shift are on operational costs and CO₂ emission of UCB.

Pharma case study UCB

26/4/2022

Caring for people with severe autoimmune and neurological diseases: that is the main focus of Belgian biopharmaceutical company UCB. Traditionally, pharmaceutical companies chose airfare to move their precious products. But over the last couple of years, a major shift took place. New reefer technology and extensive efforts in handling and storing procedures have made ports like Port of Antwerp-Bruges more attractive. Discover in the case study what major effects of a modal shift are on operational costs and CO₂ emission of UCB.

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Sea transport complementary to air transport

Port of Antwerp-Bruges has a long history in expertise of temperature controlled goods and especially life science cargo at one of the world’s hotspots for the L&H industry. It is the world’s first Good Distribution Practice (GDP) compliant harbour. We expertly connect your pharmaceutical supply chain with the rest of the world. Belgium is a hotspot for the pharma industry.
Its greatest advantage is the location of ports and airports, all within 1 hour drive. So if you have an urgent delivery, air transport can smoothly take it over from sea transport.

Traditionally, pharmaceutical companies chose airfare to move freight. But over the last couple of years, a major shift to ocean freight took place for a number of reasons:

New reefer technology and extensive efforts in handling and storing procedures have made ports more attractive.
Transport by ship is significantly cheaper than by airplane.
The whole pharma ecosystem is represented in Belgium. Therefore logistic services are also specifically adapted to the high standards that pharma products require in transportation. Brussels Airport, the first CEIV-certified airport in the world, is located less than an hour away by road.

Brochures

To stand out from the competition on the world market, companies must be able to call on the best possible supply chain to get cargo to its final destination.

The reliable partner in your supply chain

26/3/2024

To stand out from the competition on the world market, companies must be able to call on the best possible supply chain to get cargo to its final destination.

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