A ship bound for the Flemish port of Antwerp had to drop anchor in the North Sea following a bomb alert. Antwerp port authorities were warned a bomb would go off when the ship docked at the port. Federal police investigated the threat and decided on Boxing Day that the threat was probably a hoax and the vessel could sail on to Antwerp.
It was on Monday evening that the Antwerp port authority received a bomb threat concerning a ship that was heading for the port of Antwerp via the Westerschelde approach from the North Sea. The ship was then ordered to anchor at sea and was not allowed to continue its journey.
According to the threat an explosive device had been placed in a car on board the ship and might detonate on arrival in Antwerp. A possible link to drug traffickers is being investigated.
"We can confirm that a report has been received," said the office of alderman for the port Annick De Ridder (Flemish nationalist/N-VA). "The investigation is currently being conducted by the federal police. Because it is ongoing we cannot give any further information."
Federal police have meanwhile completed their investigation and concluded the threat was probably a hoax. A spokesman for the transport ministry noted all restrictions on the vessel had been lifted.
A similar case last year
The case is reminiscent of a very similar bomb threat during the same period late last year. On the night of 21 December 2022, the MSC Lorena, which was en route for Antwerp from Senegal, had to turn around on the River Schelde (Scheldt) following a telephone call in which a bomb threat was made. Then too there was mention of a bomb that would explode when the ship docked at the port.
The bomb threat eventually turned out to be false. Two Dutch nationals in their twenties were arrested. However, 2,444 kilograms of cocaine were found on board the ship a week and a half later.