Port of Rotterdam CEO Boudewijn Siemons has been elected as the IAPH Regional Vice-President for Europe, effective until the 2027 Annual General Meeting. Succeeding Jacques Vandermeiren, Siemons aims to drive international cooperation on port decarbonisation, digital interoperability, and supply chain resilience.
Rotterdam | July 30, 2026 – The International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) has announced the election of Boudewijn Siemons, Chief Executive Officer of the Port of Rotterdam, to its board as the Regional Vice-President for Europe.
Siemons’ mandate is effective immediately and will run until the 2027 Annual General Meeting, which coincides with next year’s World Ports Conference. He succeeds Jacques Vandermeiren, former CEO of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, who vacated the post in April 2026.
A Legacy of Maritime and Energy Leadership
Siemons brings decades of executive experience across the maritime, energy, and logistics sectors to the IAPH board. Appointed CEO of Europe’s largest port in 2024, following tenures as interim CEO and Chief Operating Officer, he has been a critical driver of Rotterdam’s strategic development.
Prior to his tenure at the Port of Rotterdam Authority in 2020, Siemons served as President of the North and Latin America division at Royal Vopak, where he also held management roles across Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. His extensive leadership background includes management positions at Royal VolkerWessels and an early career in the Netherlands Royal Navy from 1987 to 1998, supported by education at the Netherlands Royal Naval Institute and Technical University Delft.
Driving Decarbonisation and Supply Chain Resilience
The Port of Rotterdam has long been a pivotal player in IAPH initiatives, heavily contributing to working groups focused on the Environmental Ship Index, clean marine fuels, port readiness levels, onshore power, port call optimization, and supply chain security.
Jens Meier, IAPH President and CEO of the Hamburg Port Authority, welcomed the appointment:
“We congratulate and welcome Boudewijn to the IAPH board. The Port of Rotterdam has been a steadfast supporter of IAPH’s vision of being the global ports’ forum for industry collaboration and excellence… playing key roles in the association’s work on port call optimization, supply chain resilience, safety and security.”
Outlining his vision for his tenure as Regional Vice-President for Europe, Boudewijn Siemons emphasized actionable collaboration:
“I’m honored to be elected and look forward to contributing to the important work of the IAPH. It’s my ambition to intensify the collaboration between ports, delivering tangible progress on decarbonization, digital interoperability and supply chain resilience. As ports, we can strengthen our community that is unified in purpose, diverse in voice, and bold in action.”
About the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH)
Founded in 1955, the IAPH is a global alliance comprising 212 port authorities and 184 port-related businesses. Representing over 97 nationalities, IAPH member ports handle more than one-third of global sea-borne trade and well over 60% of world container traffic.
Recognized since 1967 as a consultative NGO by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the IAPH leads global port industry initiatives on decarbonisation, energy transition, risk management, and maritime digitalisation. Its World Ports Sustainability Program serves as the definitive reference database for ports integrating the UN Sustainable Development Goals into their commercial operations.
Source: POR