A tugboat sank at Noordkasteel bridge in Antwerp 突发！比利时安特卫普港一拖船遇险侧沉

A tugboat sank at Noordkasteel bridge in Antwerp

突发！比利时安特卫普港一拖船遇险侧沉

图源网络

Image Credit：Internet

On the evening of May 16, local time, a tugboat suffered a flooding accident in the Port of Antwerp, Belgium. According to the port authorities, the ship was moored in the waters near the Noordkasteel Bridge when it suddenly took on water for unknown reasons, causing the hull to sink out of control and eventually docked at the dock in a semi-sunken state.

当地时间5月16日晚间，一艘拖船在比利时安特卫普港发生进水事故。据港口当局通报，该船当时正系泊于诺德卡斯特尔大桥（Noordkasteel Bridge）附近水域，因突发不明原因进水导致船体失控下沉，最终呈半沉状态停靠在码头旁。

After the accident, the local emergency department quickly initiated the rescue procedure and sent a professional diving team to the scene for investigation. After preliminary confirmation, the accident caused no casualties and all crew members on board have been safely evacuated. At present, divers are cooperating with the port engineering team to formulate a ship salvage plan and plan to implement the floating operation with professional equipment . On the morning of the 17th, the tugboat was successfully floated.

事故发生后，当地应急部门迅速启动救援程序，派出专业潜水团队赶赴现场勘查。经初步确认，事故未造成人员伤亡，船上所有船员已安全撤离。目前潜水员正配合港口工程团队制定船舶打捞方案，计划通过专业设备实施起浮作业，17日早上，该拖船成功浮起。

The port administration has implemented temporary control over the accident area to ensure the safety of navigation in the surrounding waterways. The specific cause of the accident is still under investigation, and we will continue to pay attention to the subsequent salvage progress and the release of the accident investigation report.

港务管理部门已对事故区域实施临时管控，确保周边航道通航安全。事故具体原因仍在调查中，将持续关注后续打捞进展及事故调查报告的公布。

Nordkastel Bridge

诺德卡斯特尔桥

The accident occurred in the waters near the Nordcastel Bridge , which is located in the Port of Antwerp, Belgium. It is an important transportation hub connecting the north of Antwerp and the south bank of the Scheldt River. Specifically, the bridge spans the Scheldt River, close to the core area of the Port of Antwerp, and is a key bridge connecting the Noorderlaan (N180) and the Scheldelaan (N101).

此次事故发生在诺德卡斯特尔大桥附近水域，诺德卡斯特尔桥位于比利时安特卫普港区，是连接安特卫普市北部与斯海尔德河（Scheldt River）南岸的重要交通枢纽。具体来说，该桥横跨斯海尔德河，靠近安特卫普港的核心区域，是连接诺德兰大道（Noorderlaan，N180）和斯海尔德大道（Scheldelaan，N101）的关键桥梁。

The bridge is not only an important passage for road traffic, but also an important node for ships entering and leaving the Port of Antwerp. Due to its special geographical location, the Nordkastel Bridge plays a vital role in the logistics and transportation network of the Port of Antwerp. The north side of the bridge is close to the island of Oosterweel, while the south side is connected to the main docks and industrial areas of the Port of Antwerp.

这座桥不仅是公路交通的重要通道，也是船舶进出安特卫普港的重要节点。由于其地理位置的特殊性，诺德卡斯特尔桥在安特卫普港的物流和交通网络中扮演着至关重要的角色。桥的北侧靠近奥斯特韦尔岛（Oosterweel），而南侧则与安特卫普港的主要码头和工业区相连。

Previously, on March 4, 2025, a barge collided with the Nordkastel Bridge, causing the bridge to be closed. The barge came out of the Antwerp Fruit Terminal and collided with the Nordkastel Bridge. After the accident, ship traffic through the bridge was forced to stop, and road traffic was also suspended, with only bicycles allowed. The Antwerp Port Authority inspected and evaluated the bridge and expected that road traffic on the bridge would still be impassable before the end of March, the main channel for ship shipping would be suspended, and the side channel would still be available for barges.

此前，在2025年3月4日，就有一艘驳船撞上诺德卡斯特尔桥，导致桥梁处于关闭状态。该驳船从安特卫普水果码头驶出，与诺德卡斯特尔桥发生碰撞。事故发生后，经由该桥的船舶交通被迫停止，公路交通也全部暂停，仅允许自行车通行。安特卫普港当局对桥梁进行了检查和评估，预计在 3 月底之前，该桥的公路交通仍无法通行，船舶航运的主航道暂停使用，侧航道仍可供驳船通行。

A ship belonging to the same shipping company also collided with the Baltimore Bridge in March last year. At about 1:30 a.m. on March 26, U.S. time, a cargo ship sailed to the Patapsco River in Baltimore, Maryland, and collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge across the river , causing the bridge to collapse and casualties.

The bridge was opened on March 23, 1977 and was named after Francis Scott Key, the amateur poet and author of the American national anthem " The Star-Spangled Banner ".

同隶属于该航运公司的船，在去年3月还撞塌过巴尔的摩大桥。美国时间3月26日凌晨1点半左右，一艘货轮航行到美国马里兰州巴尔的摩的帕塔普斯科河时，撞上了横跨在河上的弗朗西斯‧斯科特‧基大桥（Francis Scott Key Bridge），造成大桥坍塌和人员伤亡。

该桥于1977年3月23日启用，并以美国国歌《星条旗》的作者、业余诗人弗朗西斯·斯科特·基的名字命名。

Image Credit: Internet

图源网络

Relatively speaking, the accident last March had a greater impact on Maryland, and it was more than just a bridge collapse, because the Port of Baltimore, which is connected to one side of the bridge, is one of the busiest ports on the East Coast of the United States and an important regional hub for goods such as steel, aluminum and agricultural equipment.

相对而言，去年3月这次事故对马里兰州的影响更大一些，不止塌了一座桥那么简单。因为大桥一侧连接的巴尔的摩港是美国东海岸最繁忙的港口之一，也是钢铁、铝材和农业设备等货物的重要区域枢纽。

Mexican navy sailboat crashes into US bridge

墨海军大型帆船撞上美国大桥

Today, a similar scene is happening again in the United States - a Mexican Navy sailboat accidentally collided with a key bridge while on a mission, sparking new attention and discussion.

At around 8:20 p.m. local time on the 17th, a sailboat carrying 277 people departed from Pier 17 in New York, preparing to dock at the South Street Seaport Museum for a five-day public visit. When passing the Brooklyn Bridge in New York, the mast hit the bottom of the bridge and broke, and debris fell to the deck. New York City government officials previously stated that "mechanical failure" may be the cause of the accident, but this is only preliminary information and the investigation is still ongoing. The on-site video shows that there was someone on at least one mast at the time of the accident. CNN said that on large sailboats like this, climbing masts and rigging when entering or leaving the port is a traditional ritual for sailors.

如今，类似的场景又在美国上演——一艘墨西哥海军帆船在执行任务时，意外撞上了一座关键桥梁，引发了新的关注与讨论。

当地时间17日晚8点20分左右，载有277人的帆船从纽约17号码头出发，准备停靠在南街海港博物馆，进行为期五天的公众参观。当经过纽约布鲁克林大桥时，桅杆撞到了桥底并发生断裂，碎片落向甲板。纽约市政府官员此前表示，“机械故障”可能是事故原因，但这只是初步信息，调查仍在进行中。现场视频显示，事发时至少有一根桅杆上有人。CNN称，像这样的大型帆船上，在入港或离港时攀爬桅杆和索具是水手们的一项传统仪式。

In the early morning of the 18th, Shinbaum posted on the social platform X: "We are deeply saddened by the death of two crew members of the training ship in the unfortunate accident. We express our condolences and support to their families." Shinbaum said that the Mexican Navy is treating the wounded with the support of the local government, and the Mexican Ambassador to the United States and the staff of the Mexican Consulate General in New York are providing support to the Navy. In a press release issued by the Mexican government in 2024, it was stated that the ship is a steel-hulled three-masted sailing ship, about 91.4 meters long and about 48.7 meters high . New York City government documents show that the navigation clearance height of the Brooklyn Bridge is 38.7 meters , which is about 10 meters less than the height of the sailing ship . CNN said that the Brooklyn Bridge was not significantly damaged and its structure appeared to be intact.

Dear crew members, if a ship does not verify its own height and the clearance height of the bridge or does not realize that its length is too long, and risks passing through the bridge without being sure whether it is safe, it is very easy to cause a bridge collision or bridge jam, which may cause the bridge to collapse and cause serious casualties. Do not take the chance of passing through a bridge that is too high or too long !

18日凌晨，辛鲍姆在社交平台X上发帖称：“我们对训练舰的两名船员在不幸事故中丧生深感悲痛。我们向他们的家人表示慰问和支持。”辛鲍姆表示，墨西哥海军在当地政府的支持下正在救治伤员，墨西哥驻美国大使和墨西哥驻纽约总领事馆的工作人员正在为海军提供支持。墨西哥政府在2024年发布的一份新闻稿中称， 该船是一艘钢壳三桅帆船，长约91.4米，高约48.7米。纽约市政府文件显示，布鲁克林大桥的通航净空高度为38.7米，比帆船的高度少约10米。CNN称，布鲁克林大桥没有受到明显损坏，其结构似乎完好无损。

船员朋友们，船舶未核实自身高度和桥梁净空高度或者未意识到自身长度过长，在不确定是否安全的情况下冒险通过桥梁，极易发生碰桥或卡桥事故，严重时可能导致桥梁坍塌，造成重大人员伤亡。切勿抱有侥幸心理超高或超长通过桥梁！

Port of Antwerp

安特卫普港

The accident occurred in the waters near the Nordkastel Bridge , which is located in the port area of Antwerp, Belgium. We would like to take this opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of Belgium's largest seaport.

The Port of Antwerp is the second largest port in Europe and the largest seaport in Belgium. It is located on the north side of Antwerp, in the lower reaches of the Scheldt River, 68 to 89 km from the river mouth. The port area of the Port of Antwerp is mainly distributed along the Eskau River on the right bank of the Scheldt River. It adopts a dug-in closed harbor design and is connected to the harbor by a canal to avoid the influence of the North Sea tide. The port has 6 sea locks, among which the North Candevliet Lock is the largest lock in the world, which can accommodate 150,000-ton ships.

此次事故发生在诺德卡斯特尔大桥附近水域，诺德卡斯特尔桥位于比利时安特卫普港区，借此机会，我们来深入了解这个比利时最大海港。

安特卫普港(Port of Antwerp)，是欧洲第二大港口，比利时最大的海港，位于安特卫普市的北侧，在斯凯尔特河下游，距河口68〜89km。安特卫普港的港区主要分布在斯海尔德河右岸的埃斯考河沿岸，采用挖入式封闭港池设计，并通过运河与港池相连，以避免北海潮汐的影响。港口拥有6座海船闸，其中北参德夫利特船闸是世界最大的船闸，可容纳15万吨级船舶。

Natural conditions

The port has a temperate marine climate with prevailing northwest winds. The winter is wet and foggy, and the summer is cool. The annual average temperature is around 4 degrees Celsius in January and around 18 degrees Celsius in July. The annual average rainfall is about 750-900MM, and the tidal range of the Scheldt River is 4.2-4.5m.

As the economic pillar of Europe, the Port of Antwerp is not only an important economic center of Belgium, but also has a significant impact on the trade activities of neighboring countries. The port has a huge cargo throughput, handling more than 235 million tons of cargo each year, including imported goods such as crude oil, ore, wood, food raw materials, and exported goods such as steel, chemical products, glass and textiles. In addition, the port also has a number of dedicated terminals, such as steel products terminal, container terminal and ro-ro terminal.

The Port of Antwerp has a well-developed transportation network and is closely connected to the European hinterland by rail, road and inland waterway. The port is also committed to sustainable development and is achieving green transformation by improving energy efficiency, reducing emissions and protecting ecosystems. In recent years, the Port of Antwerp has also been transforming into a multi-fuel port, planning to be able to refuel with low-carbon fuels by 2025.

The Port of Antwerp is not only an important logistics hub, but also a key pillar of the Belgian and even European economy. Its efficient operations and advanced facilities enable it to occupy an important position in the global shipping and logistics fields.

自然条件

该港属温带海洋性气候，盛行西北风。冬季潮湿多雾，夏季凉爽。年平均气温最低1月为4摄氏度左右，最高7月约18摄氏度。全年平均降雨量约750-900MM，斯海尔德河的潮差为4.2-4.5m。

作为欧洲的经济支柱，安特卫普港不仅是比利时的重要经济中心，还对周边国家的贸易活动产生显著影响。港口货物吞吐量巨大，每年处理超过2.35亿吨货物，包括原油、矿砂、木材、食品原料等进口货物，以及钢铁、化工产品、玻璃和纺织品等出口货物。此外，港口还设有多个专用码头，如钢铁制品码头、集装箱码头和滚装船码头。

安特卫普港的交通网络发达，通过铁路、公路和内河航运与欧洲腹地紧密连接。港口还致力于可持续发展，通过提高能源效率、减少排放和保护生态系统来实现绿色转型。近年来，安特卫普港也在向多燃料港口转型，计划到2025年能够加注低碳燃料。

安特卫普港不仅是一个重要的物流枢纽，也是比利时乃至欧洲经济的重要支柱，其高效的运营和先进的设施使其在全球航运和物流领域占据重要地位。

Important reminder!

重要提醒！

According to foreign media reports, Belgian trade unions will launch a nationwide strike, with May 20 as the National Action Day. By then, the Belgian Marine and Coastal Services Agency (MDK) and relevant personnel of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges will participate in the strike, and it is expected that port operations will be affected on that day.

The port operator will suspend truck export deliveries ahead of the strike. The suspension will begin at 22:00 on May 19 and last until 06:00 on May 21. During this period, the port will only accept import pick-ups and no export deliveries will be accepted. In addition, empty containers will continue to be handled and will be checked at the gate to ensure compliance with the measures.

This strike has a great impact on port operations, and may cause problems such as ship delays and obstructed cargo delivery, which will in turn have a chain reaction on the global supply chain. Please continue to pay attention to relevant developments for subsequent progress.

据外媒报道，比利时工会组织将发起全国性罢工活动，5 月 20 日为全国行动日。届时，比利时海洋与沿海服务机构（MDK）及安特卫普-布鲁日港相关人员将参与罢工，预计当天港口作业将受到冲击。

该港口运营商将在罢工前暂停卡车出口交付。暂停将于5月19日22时开始，一直持续到5月21日6时。在此期间，港口只受理进口提货，不受理出口交付。此外，空箱将继续处理，并将在大门口进行检查，以确保遵守这些措施。

此次罢工对港口运营影响较大，可能引发船舶延误、货物交付受阻等问题，进而对全球供应链产生连锁反应，后续进展如何，还请持续关注相关动态。

It is crucial for shipping safety to ensure vessels pass under bridges securely. When crossing a bridge, ships must verify their own height and the clearance height of the bridge in advance to ensure safe passage and avoid bridge collision or jamming accidents caused by overheight or overlength. As the lifeline of global trade, the stability of port operations is crucial to the supply chain. The recent tugboat sinking accident in the Port of Antwerp, the collision between the Nordkastel Bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge, and the upcoming strike actions all highlight the fragility of shipping safety and operational stability. Vessel operations need to be cautious, port management needs to be strengthened, and all parties need to work closely together to safeguard shipping safety and ensure the smooth progress of global trade.

船舶过桥始终是航运安全至关重要的一环。船舶在过桥时，必须提前核实自身高度和桥梁净空高度，确保安全通过，避免因超高或超长引发碰桥或卡桥事故。港口作为全球贸易的生命线，其运营的稳定性对供应链至关重要。近期安特卫普港的拖船侧沉事故、诺德卡斯特尔桥和布鲁克林大桥的碰撞事件，以及即将来临的罢工行动，都凸显了航运安全和运营稳定性的脆弱性。船舶操作需谨慎，港口管理需强化，各方协作需紧密，共同守护航运安全，确保全球贸易顺畅进行。

E-PORTS provides comprehensive services for the Port of Antwerp. If you need to know more about the detailed port policies and latest situation of the Port of Antwerp, you can contact us through the following methods:

WhatsApp/WeChat: 13816101982

Email: contact@e-ports.com

E-PORTS为安特卫普港提供全面服务，如需了解更多安特卫普港详细港口政策及最新情况，可通过以下方式联系：

WhatsApp/WeChat：13816101982
Email：contact@e - ports.com