Shipping traffic at the Port of Antwerp was suspended after an oil leak halted vessel movements on the River Scheldt.

The incident disrupted both inbound and outbound traffic, preventing ships from entering or leaving the port while emergency teams responded to the spill.

The leak occurred during a bunkering operation involving the container ship MSC Denmark VI in the Deurganckdock.

Despite initial containment measures, oil spread from the Deurganckdock into the river, leading to the closure of a stretch of the river, impacting the entrance to the dock.

Other access points, including the Zandvliet and Berendrecht locks, were also closed after oil slicks were detected.

As a result of these measures, the port became inaccessible via the Scheldt, significantly affecting both deep-sea shipping and inland navigation.

Several vessels were impacted, including ships at the Europaterminal, inland barges in the vicinity of the Galgenschoor nature area, and at least one tugboat.

“The impact is significant and it is unclear how long this will last,” the port authority stated on Friday, adding: “We are doing everything possible to minimise both operational and ecological damage.”

Authorities noted that navigation will resume only once conditions are considered safe.