Antwerp oil spill spreading to Zeeland nature reserves; Cleanup could take weeks
A major oil spill in the port of Antwerp, triggered during refueling of the container ship MSC Denmark VI, has spread across the Scheldt estuary and contaminated protected nature reserves in Zeeland, with cleanup operations expected to take weeks, authorities and conservation groups said.
Dutch authorities have already detected oil-contaminated birds in the affected areas and warn that more pollution could still wash ashore, as heavier fuel oil can sink and resurface later. Rijkswaterstaat has deployed aircraft and drones to monitor the spread and previously sent cleanup vessels, including a specialised oil recovery ship, to Antwerp, though initial attempts to remove the thin oil layer proved ineffective. Authorities are also preparing to hold those responsible liable for the damage, according to ANP.
The leak occurred around midnight on Thursday while the vessel was being bunkered, releasing heavy fuel oil into the water, NOS reported. The oil spread across several kilometers and affected multiple ships, forcing the port to partially shut down. Although Antwerp later reopened in stages, congestion remained significant.
At first, Dutch water authority Rijkswaterstaat expected the oil would not reach the Westerschelde. However, the pollution later spread further than anticipated, with oil slicks discovered over the weekend in Zeeland’s protected areas, including Het Land van Saeftinghe and the Hedwigepolder. Conservation officials also detected the contamination near Bath.
Dimitri Barbe of Het Zeeuwse Landschap described the complexity of the pollution. “It is a very difficult area of mud and mudflats,” he said, speaking to Omroep Zeeland. He added: “The difficult part is that the pollution consists of two parts: a light film on the water and a portion of heavy fuel oil that sinks below the water surface. That makes it difficult to see from the air.” Barbe also confirmed that the oil had spread beyond the initial impact zones. “It has now also been found at Bath,” he said.
Coordinated Dutch and Belgian authorities have increased monitoring along the coastline and are conducting more frequent field inspections. Cleanup operations in Zeeland are set to begin Monday, led by Het Zeeuwse Landschap with volunteers and a contractor.
The work will start with locating the first oil deposits before removal begins. However, Barbe warned that conditions will complicate efforts. “It is a difficult-to-access tidal area. So we have to carefully consider when it is low and high tide and align our cleanup efforts accordingly,” he told Omroep Zeeland. “Another practical problem is that we need to look carefully at how to remove the contaminated soil. It is a very extensive area. And we are also in the middle of the breeding season, so we must be careful not to disturb the birds too much.”
Cleanup is expected to take several weeks. “It is a very difficult period,” Barbe said, adding that an approaching spring tide will make conditions even more challenging.
State forestry agency Staatsbosbeheer said it will not carry out cleanup work in affected areas to avoid disturbing nesting birds, describing the decision as “choosing between two evils,” according to a spokesperson.
