Dutch Safety Board, the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate and the Port of Rotterdam Authority are investigating the cause of the incident

The Port of Rotterdam Authority and a government inspectorate are investigating the cause of a container stack collapse at the Maasvlakte 2 terminal 

On the evening of February 6 (local time), a serious container handling incident occurred at the Port of Rotterdam, in the Nieu we Maas area, temporarily disrupting terminal operations. During unloading operations, the German-flagged ultra-large container vessel Bangkok Express suffered Seven empty containers fell from Hapag-Lloyd’s 23,664-TEU  onto the aft deck of LNG bunkering vessel K.Lotus in Maasvlakte 2 terminal in the port of Rotterdam, on 6 February Two containers also fell into the water during a regular bunkering operation

.A statement from the Port of Rotterdam Authority 

A statement from the Port of Rotterdam Authority said that no one was injured. It added, “The crew of the bunkering vessel gathered in a safe location, and the bunkering operation was stopped immediately. No LNG was released. The safety procedures surrounding LNG bunkering are strict and extensive, with safety the highest priority. This type of bunkering vessel is additionally protected against potential incidents through multiple safety measures.

 About : The Bangkok Express 

The Bangkok Express  (IMO 9943889, MMSI 211108330 -  sailing under the flag of Germany.) is a 23,000+ TEU LNG dual-fuel container ship, measuring approximately 400 meters in length and 61 meters in beam, with a deadweight of about 229,000 tonnes. The vessel is operated by Hapag-Lloyd AG and is part of a 12-ship LNG-fuelled series built by Hanwha Ocean. She was launched in February 2025 and is primarily deployed on deep-sea container trades.
 

The K. Lotus

The K. Lotus, (IMO 9901362, MMSI 352980842- sailing under the flag of Panama.) a 166-meter LNG bunkering vessel with a deadweight of 12,351 tonnes, was built in 2022 by Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, sails under the Panamanian flag, and is designed for port and near-shore LNG bunkering operations. At the time of the incident, the vessel was actively engaged in LNG bunkering procedures

.
Following the impact

Following the impact, the crew of K. Lotus acted swiftly, immediately suspending all LNG bunkering operations and evacuating to designated safe areas in accordance with emergency protocols. These actions effectively prevented secondary risks such as LNG leakage or fire. Terminal operations involving Bangkok Express were also halted, and the vessel is cooperating fully with port authorities during the ongoing investigation.

 Bangkok Express departing the terminal 

As of now, no injuries have been reported. The extent of structural or equipment damage to K. Lotus has not yet been officially disclosed, and further assessments are underway. Terminal activities in the affected area were temporarily suspended pending safety inspections .Hapag-Lloyd confirmed that after inspection and clearance, the vessel and the bunkering barge were able to continue operations, with Bangkok Express departing the terminal on 7 February. 

Investigating the cause of the incident

The incident once again highlights the critical importance of container stack stability, terminal operational safety, and risk management at LNG-related interfaces, especially as LNG-fuelled and LNG-bunkering vessels become increasingly common in major ports. Meanwhile the Dutch Safety Board, the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate and the Port of Rotterdam Authority are investigating the cause of the incident

Source : Many Sources

#The K. Lotus, #Bangkok Express #The Dutch Safety Board #Maasvlakte 2 termina #Port of Rotterdam #Hapag-Lloyd #Container Stack Collapse #LNG Bunker Vessel