Oil spill in Antwerp suspends port operations

An oil spill during a bunkering operation at the Deurganck dock in Antwerp has forced a suspension of all traffic in the Scheldt River, the port authority of Antwerp-Bruges said.

IMAGE: Huge container ship being unloaded with cranes at a container terminal in Antwerp, Belgium. Getty Images

The oil spill occurred on Thursday evening due to a rupture in the bunker tank below the waterline of a container vessel, according to shipping agent VertomCory Antwerp.

The source of the spill has been stopped and the vessels involved have been contained for clean-up operations, but the pollution has spread towards the Scheldt overnight, according to the port authority.

The Port authority said 21 outgoing, 24 incoming, and 3 relocating seagoing vessels (in the Deurganckdok) have been impacted by the suspension.

Due to the spill, the Scheldt river has been completely closed to traffic between buoy 80 (above Noordzeeterminal) and the entrance to the Deurganck dock, where the spill occurred, a release from the Port Authority said.

Additionally, the Zandvlient and Berendrecht locks have also been closed due to oil slicks present there, the release added.

The spill has spread over a large area, and several vessels and tugboats have been contaminated, VertomCory added, adding that the situation is unlikely to resolve today.

There are no bunker-only calls at Antwerp usually, but operations in the port will be disrupted as the Scheldt River is an entry point to Antwerp, a source told ENGINE.

By Nachiket Tekawade

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