Oil Leak Halts Maritime Traffic at Port of Antwerp

Shipping traffic in the Port of Antwerp has come to a standstill following an oil spill that occurred on the evening of April 9, 2026. The leak originated from a vessel and has since spread into the river Scheldt, leading authorities to suspend all vessel movements.

The spill is believed to have occurred while the container ship MSC Denmark VI was undergoing bunkering operations in the Deurganckdok. According to the port authority, the impact of the incident is significant, and it remains unclear how long the disruption to shipping will last.

Containment and Environmental Impact

Authorities have reported that the leak has been contained. Despite this, a large quantity of oil entered both the dock and the Scheldt. To determine the full scale of the damage, officials deployed an aircraft to assess the affected areas.

The port authority has expressed concern regarding the potential ecological consequences of the spill. In a statement posted on its website, the authority noted a risk of impact on nearby nature areas.

The port area in Antwerp, situated within the Scheldt estuary, contains 580 hectares of protected nature. The port authority stated that every effort is being made to minimize both operational and ecological damage.

Operational Disruptions

The scale of the oil spill has resulted in the total suspension of vessel movements. Currently, no ships are able to enter or leave the port.

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges is the second-largest port in Europe. It serves as a critical global logistics hub, connecting to more than 800 destinations worldwide and handling approximately 290 million tonnes of cargo annually.

The impact is significant and it is unclear how long this will last

Port Authority