On the evening of August 20, the 106 meter long self-propelled barge River Drone 4 (IMO: 9973573) sustained damage on the Albert Canal near Olen, Belgium. The River Drone 4 had passed through the lock in Olen when it’s hull suffered an approximately 15 centimeter long hole near the fuel tank. The damage ruptured the fuel tank releasing some 10 tons of gas oil to be released into the canal. The pollution formed a oil slick that was nearly 20 kilometer long with the pollution collecting along one bank of the canal.
Authorities responded by closing the lock at Olen along with placing booms upstream to contain the spill. A pollution response team began cleaning and removing the sludge. Reports stated the majority of the spill had been cleaned by the next day. The water police have launched an investigation into the incident. No reports of injuries.
