# Toxic Gas Leak in Antwerp Disrupts Container Traffic **Category:** Operational Alerts | **Source:** Frachtportal Redaktion | **Published:** 2026-07-19 | **Updated:** 2026-07-26 **Tags:** Antwerpen, Antwerp, Port of Antwerp, Giftgas-Leck, MPET Terminal, Containerstau, Hafen Antwerpen, DP World, Seefracht Europa, Logistics News, Fracht News, Freight News, Logistik News, Transport News, Speditions News, Supply Chain News, Zoll News, Frachtportal News, Seefracht, LKW Transport, Schienentransport, Digitalisierung, Zoll > A hydrofluoric acid leak at the Deurganckdok terminal in Antwerp shut down major container terminals. 155 people were hospitalized, and cargo shipments backed up. --- Antwerp experienced a major disruption in container traffic this week. At the Deurganckdok, hydrofluoric acid leaked from a container. This is no minor dangerous goods incident, but a genuinely hazardous substance. Hydrofluoric acid can cause severe damage to skin, respiratory pathways, and eyes. According to The Loadstar, 155 people had to be hospitalized. Those affected included staff working in the port area. The consequence: Operations at Deurganckdok were halted on a large scale. The MSC-PSA terminal MPET and DP World Antwerp Gateway were temporarily closed. According to the operator, MPET is considered Europe's largest single container terminal. On July 16, the first areas were able to reopen. Among others, quay 1700 at Antwerp Gateway and quay 1718 at MPET resumed operations. Other areas had to be cleaned and re-measured first. On July 17, the port reported the end of the incident. For logistics, however, the matter is far from resolved. When two major terminals stand idle for even 24 hours, congestion builds immediately. Containers remain stationary, truck slots are lost, inland vessels and trains wait, and ships are rerouted. According to Loadstar, some vessels diverted to Zeebrugge or Rotterdam. While this helps in the short term, it does not simplify follow-up operations. Import containers do not arrive where planned. Export containers remain stuck on trucks, trains, or barges. Moreover: Antwerp had already experienced an unsettled half-year prior to this incident. The port reported approximately 6.8 million TEU for the first half of 2026. This represents 1.5 percent less than the previous year. Strikes, an oil spill in April, and pilot actions in June had already cost significant volume. --- For freight forwarders and shippers, this means: monitor Antwerp closely. If you have containers running through Antwerp, you should check: Is the terminal operational again? Where is the container actually located? Has the vessel been rerouted? Are there new truck, rail, or barge schedules? Are there additional costs due to storage fees, handling, or waiting times? In short: The hazardous materials incident is officially under control. However, operational backlogs may still have downstream effects. For Antwerp shipments, do not blindly rely on old ETA and terminal data at this time. --- The leak occurred during the night of July 14-15, 2026. Hydrofluoric acid, also known as hydrogen fluoride or HF, was released. The incident occurred at the Deurganckdok in the Port of Antwerp. According to The Loadstar, 155 persons were hospitalized. MPET and DP World Antwerp Gateway were temporarily closed. On July 16, the first terminal areas were reopened. On July 17, the port announced the end of the incident. The Port of Antwerp-Bruges handled approximately 6.8 million TEU in the first half of 2026. This represented a 1.5 percent decrease compared to the previous year. Full container exports declined by 5.7 percent, while empty containers increased by 13.7 percent. ## Related Entities ### Countries - [Belgium](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/be) ### Seaports - [Antwerpen (BE ANR)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/antwerpen-port-be-anr) ### Glossary - [Container](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/container) - [Container terminal](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/container-terminal) - [Port](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/port) - [Terminal](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/terminal) - [Goods](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/goods) - [Benelux Transport Infrastructure](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/benelux-transport-infrastructure) - [Hazardous Cargo](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/hazardous-cargo) - [Hazardous Goods](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/hazardous-goods) - [Port Call Data](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/port-call-data) - [Port Call Coordination](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/port-call-coordination) - [Inter-Terminal Transfer](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/inter-terminal-transfer) --- *Canonical URL: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/giftgas-leck-in-antwerpen-bringt-containerverkehr-durcheinander-20260719095738](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/giftgas-leck-in-antwerpen-bringt-containerverkehr-durcheinander-20260719095738)* *Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/giftgas-leck-in-antwerpen-bringt-containerverkehr-durcheinander-20260719095738](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/giftgas-leck-in-antwerpen-bringt-containerverkehr-durcheinander-20260719095738)*