Ghent (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – In a new spill at the ArcelorMittal steel company in Ghent, a port of fuel oil polluted the Ghent-Terneuzen canal. It was a fire brigade’s problem; they dammed a 1-kilometre track, and an external company treated the fuel oil from the water. It all started from a heating installation.
Last night, an attentive employee at the Ghent ArcelorMittal steel plant noticed fuel oil flowing from a broken heating system, which triggered a swift emergency response. A heating installation leak released substantial fuel oil into the Ghent-Terneuzen canal, which spread across a 1-kilometre-long section of the canal, as reported by VRT.
Firefighters utilised oil aprons to isolate the spill, after which specialised teams executed the waterway cleaning process to extract the fuel oil. Vessels adjusted their routes to avoid the established containment barriers that caused shipping traffic to face brief service interruptions.
“Around 1:30 last night, the fire brigade was called to a fuel oil leak from the ArcelorMittal company,”
says Björn Bryon of the fire brigade.
“The oil ended up in the Ghent-Terneuzen canal via a sewer. After checking, it turned out that the pollution was 1 kilometre long.”
“The lighter fractions are sucked away and then discharged. For the heavier fractions, the Civil Protection uses skimmers. These are placed on the water and scrape away the heavy fuel oil fractions,”
says ArcelorMittal.
What is the history of industrial incidents in Ghent’s port area?
Ghent’s industrial incidents within its port region developed simultaneously with its evolution into an important industrial and shipping centre. Since the late 19th century, Ghent’s port has undergone development by digging docks and constructing locks for bigger vessels on the Ghent-Terneuzen Canal. The port processes primarily two categories of bulk products which support steel mills together with chemical factories and automotive businesses.
Industrial accidents, along with fires, have occurred sporadically throughout the years. A bulk carrier experienced a fire while loading scrap metal at the Sifferdok in Ghent during June 2022, which needed emergency response but resulted in no injuries to personnel. The industrial work at the port triggers persistent safety problems because it involves managing risky materials, including scrap metal and chemicals.
The implementation of sustainable practices in the port involves building new quay walls, which improve water transportation safety and cut down both road traffic volumes and emissions. The built infrastructure seeks to reduce potential hazards that come from industrial processes in the port zone.
