What began as a routine refueling operation has grown into one of Europe’s most significant maritime environmental incidents in recent years. On the night of April 9–10, 2026, the container ship MSC Denmark VI developed a leak while being bunkered in the Deurganck Dock at Belgium’s Port of Antwerp-Bruges. Heavy fuel oil poured into the dock undetected for hours before authorities discovered the spill had already spread into the tidal Scheldt River — the primary maritime access route connecting Antwerp to the North Sea. All vessel movements were suspended, halting traffic for a port that typically handles 100 to 200 ships per day.

The Scheldt was partially reopened by Friday afternoon as specialized cleanup vessels mobilized, but the Deurganck Dock — home to some of the largest container terminals in the world — remained closed. Compounding matters, the oil spread further than initially projected over the following days, crossing into the Netherlands and contaminating protected wetlands in Zeeland’s Verdronken Land van Saeftinghe and the Hedwigepolder. Dutch authorities detected oil on wildlife in the area and warned that heavier fractions of the fuel had sunk below the water surface, making recovery significantly more complex. Full environmental remediation is expected to take weeks.

Authorities have confirmed they will pursue liability against those responsible, while environmental groups noted that bunkering operations are a recurring source of contamination in the region. The incident has added urgency to Port of Antwerp-Bruges leadership’s existing plans for approximately $6 billion in capacity expansion, including a second tidal dock and expanded container infrastructure aimed at improving both resilience and long-term throughput capacity through 2032.