Deurganckdok oil spill: clean-up completed

The clean-up operations of ships and quay walls are over. All vessels involved in the incident and contaminated have left the Deurganckdok. The quay walls are fully available again and there is no longer a selective ban on navigation in the Deurganckdok.

Update 14/06/2024

Clean-up work of ships and quay walls is progressing smoothly and continues day and night. Currently, a few vessels and a small section of quay wall are still contaminated. The quay wall at MSC is largely available and there is still a selective ban on navigation in the Deurganckdok. This involves an ad hoc assessment of which ships can enter and exit.

Destination traffic for inland navigation remains allowed. This means that inland navigation will be allowed if they are needed for operations such as loading and unloading and bunkering. In order not to compromise the safety and efficiency of the works, other shipping is not allowed in Deurganckdok.
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Update 13/06/2024

Thanks to the efforts of the last few days, the quay wall at DP World has now been fully released.

The quay wall at MSC is partially available. Therefore, a selective ban on navigation is still in place here, meaning that an an ad hoc assessment will be made as to which vessels have access to the quay.

Destination traffic for inland navigation is allowed. This means that barges are allowed when they are needed for operations such as loading and unloading and bunkering. However, clearance works are still in progress. In order not to jeopardise the safety and efficiency of the work, no other navigation is allowed in Deurganckdok.

Kieldrecht lock is also operational to ensure safe passage to the docks behind the locks. We are making sure that these movements do not impede the clean-up work or spread the pollution.

The clean-up work is continuing day and night, using all the means at our disposal. We will continue to clean the vessels and the quayside today.

Update 12/06/2024 18h00

More than 3/4th of the polluted ships have been cleaned and left Deurganckdok. Several parts of the quay wall on both sides of the dock have been cleaned. On the water surface, we continue sweeping to avoid further pollution. Clean-up work will continue again throughout the night.

​Update 11/06/2024 18h00

Three more ships were cleaned and left Deurganckdok today. We have also been busy cleaning quaysides on both sides of the dock.

Together with the terminals, Brabo Cleaning Services and the other logistics partners, we are looking on an ad hoc basis at which ships are able to dock as a a selective prohibition on navigation still applies. In these cases, lightering can take place, as well as bunkering. Other ships will not be allowed in Deurganckdok. Kieldrecht lock remains operational to ensure safe passage. During these operations we make sure that the clean-up operations are not hindered. We are keeping a close watch to ensure that the pollution does not spread.
In addition to the clean-up work, the available resources are now also being deployed to protect incoming ships as much as possible from new pollution. If pollution does occur, the ships will be cleaned before they can disembark.

We are committed to clean-up the pollution as efficient and safe as possible while allowing the terminals to continue operating. To this end, we are in constant dialogue with the terminals and with the partners carrying out and supporting the clean-up operations.
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Update 11/06/2024

More than half of the ships have now been cleaned and left. We are continuing to work on the remaining vessels to get them too cleaned up and ready to leave as soon as possible. This morning we are focusing on further cleaning parts of the quay wall so that new ships can moor.
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​Meanwhile, new ships can moor on both sides of the Deurganckdok, at the parts of the quay wall that are clean. Ships can load and unload, barges will be allowed for this purpose. Bunkering for these ships is also possible. Terminals still experience major disruption.
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​Selective navigation ban remains in place. Ad hoc consideration is given to which ships can enter and leave the port. Kieldrecht lock remains operational to ensure safe passage, without hindering the clean-up works or possibly spreading pollution.
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​Update 10/06/2024

We continue to work on the clean-up of the oil in the Deurganckdok. All resources are being deployed. The cleaning of contaminated vessels, parts of the quay wall and the water is being carried out by 10 vessels, 3 diving teams and an additional tugboat.

The Civil Protection Service is providing logistical support and is assisting with the imaging of the situation using drones. Port of Antwerp-Bruges is closely monitoring the situation.

Since Thursday, seven seagoing vessels and three barges have been cleared. Meanwhile, 3 ships have been docked since the incident. Loading and unloading with barges is gradually being resumed. During these operations, we are careful not to impede cleanup operations. A selective prohibition of navigation is still enforced. We are checking on an ad hoc basis which ships can embark and disembark. Terminals continue to operate, but there are still significant disruptions.

Weather conditions are slightly less favourable today, with more wind and rain. Although we do not expect any major impact, safety remains paramount. We are constantly monitoring the situation.

Update 09/06/2024

Yesterday and throughout the night, we worked nonstop in Deurganck dock which resulted in three clean ships being able to disembark. In addition, two ships entered and docked at clean quays. A selective prohibition of navigation is still in place. We are reviewing ad hoc whether and which ships can embark and disembark. Terminals remain operational but are still experiencing major disruption.

Two ships passed via Kieldrecht lock this night. We allow this in specific cases to ensure safe passage, without hindering clean-up works or potentially spreading pollution.

All resources are deployed to ensure safe and rapid clearance. In addition to several vessels, dive teams are also deployed to clean up ships and quay walls. The oil on the water is contained and continuously swept. Civil protection is providing logistical support and assisting in imaging the situation with drones.

Update 08/06/2024

We are still doing everything we can to clean up the oil on ships, quay walls and the water surface in Deurganckdok as quickly and safely as possible. There is close cooperation with the various parties and stakeholders at the site. The work continued throughout the night.

There is still a selective prohibition of navigation in Deurganckdok. Yesterday, 1 departure was allowed, we are reviewing ad hoc whether ships can embark and disembark.

Kieldrecht lock is used where appropriate to ensure safe passage to the Waasland canal and insofar as it does not impede cleaning or potentially spreading pollution.

Terminals remain operational but experience significant disruption.

Update 07/06/2024

Oil was discovered in the Deurganck dock late yesterday afternoon. Oil leaked during a bunker operation. Our services arrived on scene immediately.

It is important that the oil is cleaned up as quickly as possible. We are working with Brabo Cleaning Services and the Maritime Access Department.

We are not detecting any pollution in the river. The impact is limited to the port near the Deurganck dock. The Kieldrecht lock is operational.

What do we do?

– In the event of an oil spill, it is vital to identify the cause and contain the leak as quickly as possible. We do this with absorbent pads combined with oil screens. These stop and absorb the oil.

– In the meantime, we map the situation. Among other things, we are using drones to help us get a good picture of the situation. 20 ships, both sea vessels and barges, are polluted in Deurganckdock. Oil has been detected in the fairway and on the quay walls. No pollution has been detected on the Scheldt river.

– Contaminated ships can’t leave the port until they have been cleaned. In addition, the fairway is going to be cleaned as quickly as possible, a process known as sweeping. The quay walls are also being cleaned.

At the moment, there is a selective traffic ban for the Deurganck dock. Traffic will be diverted as much as possible. The other locks remain open. The situation is causing delays for ships, but the terminals remain operational.

We are closely monitoring the situation. Several ships are being used for the clean-up, which will take several days. We have an aerial view of the situation to support the cleaning and provide an overview. We are working with all our might to clean up the pollution.
Source: Port of Antwerp-Bruges