An oil spill in the port of Antwerp has significantly interrupted shipping traffic on major routes, as the port works to clean up the issue.
Two of the largest locks in the port are currently inaccessible, and the Europe and North Sea terminals are closed.
Olielek ter hoogte van Europaterminal. Scheepvaartverkeer ter plaatse gestremd, Zandvliet - Berendrechtsluis niet toegankelijk. We doen er alles aan om de situatie zo snel mogelijk op te lossen.
— Port of Antwerp (@PortofAntwerp) May 14, 2020
The spill was discovered at the Europaterminal, and has left the Berendrecht and Zandvliet locks inaccessible, with no clear idea when they will reopen.
"The oil spill was noticed this night at the Europaterminal (S869) and spread to both the access channel of the Zandvliet and Berendrecht locks and the North Sea terminal. Shipping is partly curtailed," the port announced in a statement. "It is only in the vicinity that shipping cannot take place."
"We are doing everything we can to resolve the situation as soon as possible," the port added.
The Brussels Times
