An explosion at a petroleum storage facility in the Port of Rotterdam, Europe’s largest port, killed one person and injured six others on Thursday (13 August), Reuters reported.

The blast occurred at around 11.30 am local time. Gunvor, which operates oil product storage tanks at the site, said the incident took place while maintenance work was being carried out on one of its storage tanks.

Police said there was no immediate evidence of sabotage, although all possibilities remained under consideration.

Gunvor added it was cooperating with the authorities. 

Photo credit: MarineTraffic / Rolf Bridde
Published: 17 August, 2026

Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs on Tuesday (14 July) held a cross-agency coordination meeting to expedite efforts in handling the Malaysian-flagged tanker Silver Sincere that sank off Bintan Regency, Riau Islands.

The vessel sank while carrying about 1,000 metric tonnes (mt) of waste oil on 12 January 2025. 

According to authorities, the ship sank within Indonesian waters. After several surveys, the wreck was finally discovered in March 2025 and it was found to have shifted approximately 13 nautical miles from the initial sinking location.

The meeting was aimed to align cross-ministerial and institutional measures to expedite the handling of the Silver Sincere wreck while minimising risks to shipping safety, the marine environment, and national interests.

Deputy for Coordination of State Defense and National Unity Purwito Hadi Wardhono emphasised that the handling of the impact of the Silver Sincere sinking was the first case to be comprehensively coordinated, serving as a model for handling foreign vessels sinking within Indonesian jurisdiction.

Through this cross-sectoral coordination, the government will establish a clear and measurable framework that can serve as a reference for resolving similar cases in the future, while minimising state losses due to environmental pollution, damage to underwater ecosystems and infrastructure, and disruption to shipping lanes.

“The most important thing is to immediately stop and prevent the negative impacts of this ship sinking,” Purwito said.

“Therefore, a coordinating role is crucial, as maritime security governance involves various ministries and institutions with varying authorities, allowing for faster, more integrated, and more effective response,” he said. 

He added that the Silver Sincere was a Malaysian-flagged vessel that sank within Indonesian jurisdiction, and therefore, all handling processes must comply with the provisions of Indonesian laws and regulations.

In the meeting, Prof. Eko Ganis Sukoharsono, representing the SAE Energy Consulting Team, presented the results of an analysis based on 14 observation periods using Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite imagery. 

The analysis results showed strong indications of a waste oil spill that has resulted in marine pollution, damage to the seabed due to shifting shipwrecks, disruption of coastal ecosystems and fishing grounds, and potentially threatening the livelihoods of fishing communities around the Riau Islands. 

Purwito added these findings further emphasise the importance of accelerating the removal of the shipwrecks to prevent widespread environmental impacts, maintain shipping safety, and avoid the potential for greater state losses.

The meeting brought together representatives of related ministries and institutions including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Ministry of Environment, Attorney General’s Office.  

Related: MPA: Malaysia-registered tanker “Silver Sincere” sinks off Pedra Branca

Photo credit: MarineTraffic / Julian T
Published: 20 July, 2026

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges on Wednesday (15 July) said shipping operations are permitted throughout the port area on the left bank in the port after an acid leak from a damaged cargo vessel disrupted operations. 

In a notice on its website, the port authority said a container of hydrofluoric acid (HF or hydrogen fluoride) was damaged and began leaking aboard the cargo vessel Mia Summer II at the Deurganck Dock on 14 July. 

Several workers became unwell as a result. They received immediate medical care and were evacuated to various hospitals.

The municipal emergency response phase was activated with emergency services responding in large numbers, carried out air quality measurements, and implemented measures to bring the situation safely under control.

Shipping traffic was suspended temporarily in the affected area.

On 15 July, the port authority said all terminals, except for MPET’s, were permitted to resume operations.

Specialist teams are on standby to remove the container from the vessel.

Photo credit: Port of Antwerp Bruges
Published: 16 July, 2026