BEYOND TECHNICAL COMPLIANCE: NXTPORT AND THE GOVERNANCE OF NEUTRAL DATA INTERMEDIATION IN THE PORT OF ANTWERP-BRUGES

Abstract

The European Twin Transition is increasing pressure on seaports to develop into data driven logistics hubs. However, stakeholder reluctance to share commercially sensitive information remains a major barrier to digital integration. Although the EU Data Governance Act, Regulation 2022/868, provides a legal framework for neutral data intermediation services, evidence on their practical implementation in specific sectors remains limited. This study examines NxtPort, the digital utility platform of the Port of Antwerp Bruges, as a case of data intermediary governance. Using qualitative document analysis of publicly available governance artefacts, including the NxtPort Status Page, OpenAPI specifications hosted on GitHub, and the Service Desk portal, the study evaluates the platform’s alignment with the DGA principles of neutrality, transparency, and accountability. The findings show that operational status monitoring, standardised API documentation, and formalised user support jointly strengthen stakeholder trust by making governance processes visible. The study contributes by introducing governance visibility as an analytical lens for assessing data intermediation platforms through publicly observable artefacts. This framework may also inform other ports and sectors seeking to balance data driven efficiency with regulatory compliance.