MSC MIA SUMMER II
Kurs/Position
Die letzten Häfen
Die letzten Wegpunkte
Die neuesten Nachrichten
Harbour operations largely resumed after container was removed from board - one docker in intensive care
After a container of the 'MSC Mia Summer II', containing the toxic substance hydrogen fluoride started leaking, the Labour Inspectorate has launched a criminal investigation. The container ship had docked at quay 1742 of the MPET terminal in Doel on the evening of July 13. During the unloading of the container with the highly corrosive industrial chemical on July 14, it was punctured on board at around 8:10 p.m. . As a result, the gas was released, accompanied by a thick plume of white smoke. All personnel present on the ship and at the quay were immediately evacuated. Emergency services arrived en masse. Several employees had become unwell and received immediate medical care. In total, 155 people were transferred to various hospitals. One worker was seriously injured and remained in intensive care. Exposure to hydrogen fluoride can also cause symptoms 36 hours later. The Port of Antwerp-Bruges therefore urged anyone with symptoms to go to the hospital immediately. It was still unclear how the leak in the container could have occurred. The Ghent Labour Inspectorate launched an investigation on Wednesday into the precise circumstances and was examining whether any safety regulations may have been violated. For everyone’s safety, a large perimeter was immediately established. It was then decided to allow the substance to evaporate in a controlled manner. Measurements by the emergency services quickly showed that the hydrogen fluoride remained mainly localised, in the immediate vicinity of the dock. Consequently, there was never any danger to local residents, according to the Port of Antwerp-Bruges. The controlled evaporation of the hydrogen fluoride continued throughout the night. Consequently, the amount of hydrogen fluoride in the container had decreased by the morning of July 15, when specialised teams removed the container from the ship in a so-called ‘spill tray’, a container filled with lime. During that intervention, the emergency services carried out continuous measurements to ensure there was no risk to personnel or the surrounding area. “Once the container was completely empty, they could begin to restrict the perimeter in the course of the afternoon. At 3:30 p.m., all terminals, except those of MPET, could be fully reopened and operations could be resumed. From that moment on, shipping was possible again throughout the Waaslandhaven. Operations at MPET remained suspended until the late evening, when operations at part of the terminal were able to resume. It was not yet clear when the terminal could be fully reopened. According to the municipality of Beveren, this depended on the further progress of the cleaning works on infrastructure, vehicles, and buildings, among other things. The disruption to the Waaslandhaven, apart from the MPET terminal, appearedto be manageable for the time being. The exact extent of the ultimate impact and the cost of the intervention were still being investigated. Report with photos: https://www.nieuwsblad.be/regio/antwerpen/regio-antwerpen/antwerpen/reconstructie.-hoe-lekkende-container-met-waterstoffluoride-de-waaslandhaven-lamlegde/158778455.html
155 people hospitalised after hazmat accident in Antwerp
Emergency services were alerted after an incident on board the 'MSC Mia Summer II' in the Deurganck dock in Antwerp on July 14, 2026, at 8:19 p.m. The municipal phase of the emergency plan and the medical intervention plan were declared. The leak occurred in a container loaded with hydrogen fluoride. It likely happened during the loading of the ship. The toxic substance escaped through a hole of approximately 10 by 10 centimeters in the container and completely evaporated. In total, 155 people were taken to various nearby hospitals because they may have come into contact with the toxic fumes. 21 ambulances and seven rapid intervention vehicles were deployed during the operation. A large number of them have since been discharged from the hospital. This included both crew members and people working on the quay. The crew was mainly from the Philippines. 28 people exhibited more serious symptoms and remained in the hospital for observation for the time being. One victim was in intensive care. In the port itself, the medical intervention has concluded. The ambulances and fire vehicles have departed. The situation was under control. A large safety zone has been established around the Deurganck dock. Specialists were carrying out measurements to determine if there was a danger to the surrounding area. The measurements indicated that the levels of the toxic substance were decreasing. No elevated concentrations have been measured outside the Waasland Port. There was no danger to local residents. For safety reasons, the bridges over the Kieldrecht Lock have been closed, and shipping traffic in the area has been temporarily halted. The area around Quay 1742 has also been closed off. The municipality asked everyone to avoid the zone and to strictly follow the instructions of the emergency services. In the meantime, the emergency services were investigating how the leak could be safely sealed and checked whether the released substance has caused damage to the ship or the cargo. Only then could the chemical substance be safely removed. A floating drip tray containing lime has already been prepared for the further handling of the leaking container. Reports with photos and video: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2026/07/14/kallo-medisch-interventieplan/ https://www.nieuwsblad.be/binnenland/giftig-lek-op-containerschip-in-waaslandhaven-28-werknemers-nog-in-ziekenhuis-een-op-intensieve-zorg/158736507.html
Inspectors found five defiencies in Riga
The 'MSC Mia Summer II' was inspected in Riga on Jan 29, 2026, by Paris MoU officials. The detailed inspection covered the accommodation, cargo area, engine room, navigation bridge, decks, forecastle and steering-room, while a fire drill was observed. The inspectors found five deficiencies, but none of these were regarded as seriously and being a ground for a detention.
News schreiben