In an afternoon update issued at 13:30 local time, the Port of Antwerp-Bruges announced the resumption of navigation on the Scheldt River following a temporary suspension caused by an oil spill incident. However, the Deurganck Dock remains closed pending further assessment and remediation.
The port authority confirmed that specialized response vessels are currently conducting oil recovery and containment operations. “Our operational priority is the full clearance of the Deurganck Dock, the Noordzee Terminal, the Europaterminal, and the Berendrecht–Zandvliet lock complex,” it stated.
The Port emphasized that all available resources are being deployed to restore safe and efficient operations at these critical infrastructure nodes as swiftly as possible—while mitigating cascading disruptions across port activities.
As reported by Schuttevaer, the incident occurred during bunkering operations aboard the container vessel MSC Monterey 5. Preliminary findings indicate that a hull fracture developed on Thursday evening, resulting in a substantial release of fuel oil into the waterway.
“The source of the leak has been secured, and the affected seagoing vessels have been isolated to facilitate active clean-up,” the Port of Antwerp-Bruges noted earlier today. “Nevertheless, residual pollution migrated downstream along the Scheldt overnight, prompting precautionary navigational restrictions.”
Consequently, navigation on the Scheldt was temporarily suspended between Buoy 80—located upstream of the Noordzee Terminal—and the entrance to the Deurganck Dock. In addition, the Zandvliet and Berendrecht locks were closed due to the presence of oil sheens, effectively limiting riverine access to the port.
Several assets have been impacted, including vessels berthed at the Europaterminal, inland barges anchored near the Galgenschoor area, and a tugboat. The Port also cautioned that sensitive ecological zones within the Scheldt estuary—including Natura 2000–designated habitats—may be at risk, underscoring the environmental urgency of the response.
Resource.: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/ho8wvN9gXu0T2Kf9jbR4bw