An inland freighter, Sola Gratia, sank near the Port of Antwerp-Bruges after colliding with mooring bollards while navigating the River Scheldt. The incident occurred overnight as the vessel was inbound carrying a cargo of sand.
According to initial reports, the vessel lost maneuverability shortly before impact near the Royers Lock complex. The master and a crew member abandoned ship and were rescued from the water by emergency services before being taken for medical assessment.
The vessel subsequently sank and began leaking a limited amount of fuel into the river. Cleanup contractors have been deployed to contain the pollution, while salvage operations are still being planned.
Authorities noted that the incident did not significantly disrupt port operations, as the Royers Lock is currently out of service due to expansion works. As a result, vessel traffic in the area was not critically affected.
The casualty follows a recent bunker fuel spill in Antwerp earlier in April, which had temporarily disrupted port activity and required a large-scale cleanup effort. The latest incident is now under investigation, including the cause of the reported loss of maneuverability.
