Kris De Decker is a seasoned River Scheldt Pilot at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, where he ensures safe and efficient navigation along one of Europe’s busiest inland waterways, drawing on his Master in Maritime and Nautical Sciences and Master Unlimited certification.

With over a decade of hands-on experience in maritime operations, Kris champions operational excellence, leveraging cutting-edge data analytics to enhance compliance and sustainability in river traffic management.

As Product Owner of OptiRiver, he spearheads an innovative initiative that integrates Automatic Identification System (AIS) vessel tracking with echosounder bathymetry data to optimize riverbed conditions and predict navigational hazards in real-time.

This groundbreaking approach not only increases profits but also exemplifies the summit’s theme of harnessing AI and data fusion for resilient maritime ecosystems. At AIS Summit 2025, Kris will present OptiRiver in the Novel Projects session, inspiring attendees with actionable insights on transforming traditional piloting into a data-driven powerhouse for future-proof river logistics.