Belgium: Port of Antwerp halts its commercial activity after a serious oil spill

Published at: 10/04/2026 08:34 AM

Port of Antwerp-Bruges in Belgium, the second most important logistics hub in Europe and a reference in global trade, has been forced to suspend a large part of its maritime traffic this Friday as a result of a powerful oil spill.

According to the official statement issued by the port authority, the contingency began to be detected during the night of Thursday. The oil spill has moved towards the Scheldt River, blocking the main access from the high seas to the inland terminals.

The management company has warned that the stoppage could last for “several days”, depending on the effectiveness of the cleaning work and the evolution of weather conditions.

The port management has expressed concern about the environmental repercussions of the incident, especially on adjacent river ecosystems.

“We deeply regret the potential impact on vulnerable natural areas along the Scheldt. We are deploying all the necessary resources to limit damage as much as possible, both in the operational and ecological spheres”, highlights the official document.

Given the closure of the affected docks, a domino effect is expected on the delivery times of goods on the continent. Currently, emergency teams are working to contain hydrocarbon using floating barriers and suction systems to restore safe navigation in the shortest possible time.

Mazo News Team