About ITMMA - University of Antwerp
 
ITMMA of the University of Antwerp has acquired a leading position in the fields of transport economics, including maritime economics, port economics and logistics. The activities of ITMMA include research and consultancy, Master of Science and postgraduate programs, short-term specialized courses, tailor-made courses and events and conferences.
 
http://www.itmma.ua.ac.be/ 

About ESPO
 
ESPO represents the seaports of the Member States of the European Union and has observer members from several other European countries. ESPO ensures that port authorities have a clear voice in the European Union and acts as the interface of the sector for the EU institutions. Its main objective is to ensure that the positive contribution of seaports to European trade, economy and welfare is recognised by EU policy-makers. In addition, ESPO strives for free and fair competition in the port sector and promotes the highest possible standards in terms of sustainable development and operation of ports.
 
http://www.espo.be/

The port of Antwerp is Europe's second largest port with an annual volume of about 160 million tons of seaborne cargo and a container throughput of 6.5 million TEU (twenty foot equivalent units). The port is home to world-leading cargo handling companies such as PSA HNN, P&O Ports (DP World Group) and Sea-Invest, a wide array of international logistics groups and several hundreds of freight forwarders. Moreover Antwerp is a port of call in the liner schedules of all leading shipping lines and alliances and the north European hub of Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC).

The port of Antwerp is administered by an autonomous municipal body with a separate corporate identity called Antwerp Port Authority. Antwerp is a typical Landlord Port, in which the Port Authority provides the sites used by port operators and industries as well as basic infrastructure and some of the port's equipment. The Antwerp Port Authority is responsible for the management of the port and has a workforce of 1,650. It owns and manages docks, berths and bridges. It is responsible for planning, modernising and maintaining the infrastructure of the port, and for operating its own equipment, including floating cranes, shore cranes, tugs and dredgers. The Antwerp Port Authority leases sites and land and distributes electricity in the port. Moreover, it plays an increasing role in the promotion of the general interest of the port community.

http://www.portofantwerp.be/ 

    
  
About Dalian Maritime University
 
Dalian Maritime University (DMU) is the largest and the only key leading maritime institution under the Ministry of Communications, People’s Republic of China. The University enjoys a high reputation internationally as a center of maritime education and training, as confirmed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The origin and history of the University can be traced back to 1909 when a Shipping Management Section was founded by the Shanghai South Sea Institute. In 1960, DMU was confirmed as being one of the key universities of the land. The Asian-Pacific Region Maritime Training Center was established at DMU in 1983 by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the IMO. A branch of the World Maritime University (WMU) was opened at DMU in 1985. The University’s name was changed to the present one in 1994 with the approval of the Ministry of Education.  DMU consists of 12 colleges and 4 departments. The total number of fully registered students now reaches almost 13,000. Since the amalgamation in 1953, DMU has trained over 40,000 highly competent personnel, the majority of whom have become the backbone of the navigation sector. In addition, DMU has trained more than 2,000 overseas students and personnel from over 30 countries and regions.
 

DMU attaches much importance to inter-institutional and international exchange and cooperation. Since China’s reform and opening up in late 1970s, it has officially established cooperative relations with over 20 world-famous navigational learning institutions around the world, and has been cooperating closely in real terms with them in such fields as joint educational programs, exchange of visiting scholars and students, and joint academic research projects. 
 
http://english.dlmu.edu.cn/