University of Antwerp and partners extend Dennie Lockefeer Chair

A valuable platform for research, education and service

Five years after the establishment of the Dennie Lockefeer Chair within the bosom of the Antwerp University Fund, this important academic mainstay for inland navigation and intermodality is once again extended. The Chair established in fall 2019 in memory of Dennie Lockefeer, a leading figure in the maritime world who passed away at the age of 42, has since made significant contributions to the advancement of knowledge and innovative solutions in inland navigation.

The warmth for Dennie that we all share within the Dennie Lockefeer Chair

Dennie Lockefeer was known for his unwavering commitment to inland navigation and his pursuit of advances in maritime logistics. The chair, led by promoter Prof. Christa Sys and co-promoter Prof. Thierry Vanelslander, and supported by young researchers such as Katrien Storms and Katie Tahany, has fostered successful research in the field of inland navigation and intermodality in recent years. By developing and sharing new insights, the University of Antwerp and the partners of the Chair are working on future-oriented solutions to further develop intermodality (rail, short sea/estuary shipping) and inland navigation in particular.

Over the past five years, numerous initiatives have seen the light of day thanks to the "Dennie Lockefeer Chair." For example, the Chair presented nine thesis awards and awarded five scholarships to the Antwerp Inland Navigation School. The warmth for Dennie we all share within the Dennie Lockefeer Chair. In addition, the memory of Dennie is kept alive by "The Ambassadors of the Chair," a network of former prize and scholarship winners who remain involved in intermodal research and innovation.

Four (hybrid) lectures and a webinar were organized, which managed to reach a wide international audience. Thanks to the chair, the work of young researchers was funded, which helped them take valuable steps toward industry, another doctoral track, the defense of dissertation (Feb. 2025), or the second year of ongoing doctoral research (expected in 2027).

Valuable insights

During the annual presentation of the thesis awards, it becomes clear again and again how strongly the memory of Dennie Lockefeer lives on. Van Moer Logistics, the company where Dennie shaped his career, is therefore happy to stay involved as a golden partner for another year.

"At Van Moer Logistics, we continue to build on the realization of Dennie's intermodal dreams and experience every day the impact of his tremendous vision on this subject. Dennie's name was immortalized in our Dennie Lockefeer Container Terminal in Grobbendonk and also the recent acquisition of PortConnect - active in estuarine shipping - fits into Van Moer Logistics' intermodal vision that put Dennie on the map, as does the construction of a new container terminal in Beringen, along the Albert Canal. We are really pleased that so many partners have pledged their support to organize an extra year of the chair. To put it in cycling terms, this contribution allows us to initiate the final sprint and successfully cross the finish line. We would therefore like to express our heartfelt thanks to all our partners.", said Bert Calluy, on behalf of Jo Van Moer, CEO Van Moer Logistics.

Looking ahead to 2025

With the renewal of the chair in 2025, new initiatives are planned. A key moment is the fifth lecture of the Dennie Lockefeer Chair, which will take place in January 2025. During this lecture, the focus will be on "Transport Mode Decisions in Intermodal Supply Chains: Determining Factors. This topic explores the key factors that influence companies and logistics planners in choosing the right transportation modes in an intermodal supply chain. The insights shared during this lecture will not only contribute to academic research, but also guide industry practice.

In addition to inspiring steering committee meetings, the defense of the first thesis, and new publications, the sixth thesis award is scheduled for April 2025. This will be preceded by a "talent event intermodality".