Ship with more than a hundred electric cars catch fire in the harbor of Zeebrugge: « Easy to tow boots, extinguishing work can take a while » (Bruges)

The fire broke out in the CLDN terminal on the border of Heist and Zeebrugge. Around 3 p.m. the emergency services were alerted for smoke development from a large cargo ship, the Delphine. That sails under Maltese flag. « The flames were created on the ship’s car god deck, but we do not yet know exactly where, » said Tim Weekes, spokesperson for CLDN. « Everyone on board has been evacuated and wounded are not yet there. The captain of the ship remained on board to follow the situation together with the fire brigade and the emergency services. »

Lots of smoke development through electric cars

It is not yet clear how the fire started, although it may be an electric car that has caught fire. The emergency services are massively present, because the situation is reportedly serious. The fire is also raging near the LNG terminal from Fluxys. « A ship has caught fire in the terminal of CLDN, » confirms Lennert Verstappen, spokesperson for Port of Antwerp-Bruges. « The fire brigade is on site and tugboats were also used. »

According to Jeroen Bonte van de Brugse fire brigade, it will take a long time for the fire to be completely under control. « The Ghent fire brigade is on the road for reinforcement, » says Bonte. « Two extinguishing boats are also fully engaged in fighting the flames. »

The ship would be loaded with more than 110 electric cars. How many cars are effectively on fire or destroyed is not yet clear. « No exactly number is known yet, » said the federal police. « The fire brigade is on site and there is a perimeter on land and also on the water. There was a lot of smoke development due to the electric cars present, and that makes it difficult to extinguish. » Due to the incident, traffic in and around Zeebrugge is also busier than normal.

Extinguishing system

Mayor Dirk De Fauw (CD&V) also follows the situation up close. He confirms that it is a heavy fire that is not yet under control. « The automatic extinguishing system is activated under the ship, » said De Fauw. « The smoke is heading towards the sea, which is positive for the residents of Knokke and Zeebrugge. »