Shipping operations at the Port of Antwerp, Europe’s second-largest, were largely suspended on Friday following an oil spill that occurred during the early hours. The incident took place in the Deurganck Dock, a section of the port that accommodates some of the world’s largest vessels, during a bunkering operation, which involves refueling a ship.

By midday Friday, the port’s North Sea access, routed through the Scheldt river estuary, was reported to be completely blocked. This disruption affected several dozen container and cargo ships attempting to enter or leave the port, according to local media reports. Authorities expressed optimism that full operations could resume within 24 hours, although the situation remained fluid.

The port authority confirmed that the source of the oil leak had been stopped and the vessels directly involved were secured to facilitate active clean-up efforts. Despite these measures, the oil had spread into the Scheldt river overnight, raising concerns over environmental impacts.

Emergency response teams were fully deployed, focusing on containment and removal of the spilled oil. However, officials have yet to provide an estimate of the total volume of oil released into the water. The Scheldt estuary serves as the primary maritime gateway to Antwerp, with additional inland canals supporting navigation, making the blockage a significant logistical challenge.

Authorities continue to monitor the spill closely, balancing the urgency of resuming port traffic with the need to mitigate potential pollution and its economic consequences.