An oil spill during bunkering at Antwerp Port disrupts shipping, affecting container terminal operations and nearby locks.
Shipping operations at the Port of Antwerp were disrupted after an oil spill was detected overnight during bunkering, reported Fort Lauderdale's Maritime Executive.
Traffic on the Scheldt River resumed, but container terminal operations remain suspended.
Local media reported that the Liberian-registered MSC Denmark VI (5,762 TEU) was bunkering when a crack in the hull caused the leak. The spill spread downstream, affecting locks three kilometers away. Operations at the Zandvliet and Berendrecht locks were suspended, and the Scheldt was closed beyond buoy 80.
The slick also impacted the Deurganck Dock and Europaterminal. The port authority launched aerial surveys and containment efforts, prioritizing the prevention of further spread and monitoring sensitive areas.
Several containerships were in the vicinity, including MSC Denmark V, MSC Monterey V, MSC Sara Elena, CMA CGM Paranagua, MSC Anna Maria, and MSC Anshika VI. Inland cargo ships were also affected.
The Scheldt reopened in the afternoon while specialized vessels continued cleanup efforts. No timeline was given for resuming operations at Deurganck Dock, Europe's largest container terminal with a capacity of 9 million TEU.
Antwerp experienced a similar incident in June 2024, when recovery and washdown operations took several days before normal activity resumed.
