ports

Antwerp Port Partially Resumes Operations After Toxic Gas Incident

Antwerp's Deurganckdok area resumed partial operations Wednesday following a hazardous material response to a hydrofluoric acid leak that hospitalized 155 people Tuesday night. Quay 1700 at DP World's Antwerp Gateway and Quay 1718 at MPET terminal reopened for vessel, truck and barge traffic. However, Quay 1741 at the MSC-PSA MPET terminal remained closed as cleanup continued. The toxic substance partially evaporated and settled across infrastructure at nearby Quay 1742, requiring decontamination of equipment and vehicles. Port authorities maintained security perimeters pending air quality clearance. The closure threatened substantial cargo delays, with MPET handling approximately 24,000 TEU daily and Antwerp Gateway roughly 7,000 TEU. Waterside and landside traffic suspensions created considerable operational disruption across the port complex.