In Beringen, 30,000 liters of fuel oil ended up in the Albert Canal on Sunday evening due to a leak on a cargo ship. The fuel was diked in and sucked up all night long by civil defense. There was no danger to the environment.
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“Around 6 p.m., a cargo ship was unloading the fuel,” says environmental ships Tijs Lemmens (Voluit). “But when a passing boat created a high swell, the hose came loose. The fuel that was in the underground pipeline between the silo and the boat, an estimated 30,000 liters, flowed back into the canal and partly onto the quay. The skipper immediately took action to contain the fuel on the water.”
“The South West Limburg fire brigade came to the scene, but was unable to clear the canal sufficiently. That is why civil defense has been contacted. Normally, the fuel, which floats on the water and is diked in, is sucked up. If that fails, it must be neutralized or removed with an absorbent material.”
“The fuel oil that has been dammed around the ship will already be cleaned up this evening (Sunday evening, ed.),” said Mayor Thomas Vints (CD&V). “The impact on the water is currently difficult to estimate. Fortunately there is no strong wind.”
Odor nuisance limited
Due to the leak, there was a smell of oil at Nijverheidsstraat, Kaaistraat and Voortstraat. “But because of the cold weather, the odor nuisance is limited,” says Alderman Lemmens. “If it were warmer, the fuel would dissipate more easily and the environment would be more affected. Local residents are advised to turn off ventilation and close windows. There is no threat to public health.” e.g.
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