The Port of Antwerp-Bruges, together with the Government of Flanders and various partners, is launching a large-scale vehicle emissions monitoring program aimed at accelerating the transition to greener freight transport. Starting May 20, intensified roadside checks will target vehicles with excessively high emission levels. The campaign involves VLABEL, local and federal police forces, and representatives from Denmark, the Netherlands, and Ireland. Inspectors will be supported by GOCA Flanders and the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) through the deployment of advanced monitoring tools.
As part of the project, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, the Flemish Environment Agency (VMM), and the research consortium Net-4-Cities will conduct extensive remote emissions measurements on roads surrounding the port area. Plans are in place to assess the emissions of approximately 200,000 vehicles between mid-May and the end of June. Remote sensing technology will enable the identification of trucks with malfunctioning or intentionally disabled exhaust treatment systems, flagging them for further inspection. Research indicates that a single Euro VI-compliant truck with a deactivated catalytic converter can emit as much nitrogen oxide (NOx) as 15 properly functioning vehicles.
The Port of Antwerp-Bruges notes that combining digital monitoring with targeted inspections will allow for more effective air pollution reduction without placing an undue burden on the majority of compliant carriers. Previous studies have shown that this approach can detect violations in over 80% of cases – compared to around 5% with traditional checks – and has the potential to reduce freight transport emissions in Flanders by more than 40%. Johan Claes, Chairman of the Port’s Board of Directors, emphasized that the initiative will provide a more accurate assessment of road transport’s impact on air quality while simultaneously supporting companies that adhere to environmental regulations.