Antwerp Port Authorities On High Alert After Bomb Threat On MSC Containership

A bomb threat regarding a ship approaching the port has been reported to the Antwerp Port Authority. Information was verified by Annick De Ridder’s office, the city councillor who is in charge of the port. The probe is currently being handled by the federal police. As of this moment, no additional information has been given.

An unidentified caller purportedly alerted the crew of the 5,018-TEU containership MSC Bhavya V that an explosives-laden vehicle was on its way to the port.

The ship, flying the flag of Liberia, had previously been named Bremerhaven, Le Havre in France, Nemrut in Turkey, and Sines in Portugal. It had departed Hamburg on December 24.

Similar bomb threats occurred at the same time last year, forcing the 4,872 teu MSC Lorena to change course and head to the Vlissingen anchorage for inquiry. This event is similar to that one. Authorities found almost 2.4 tonnes of cocaine on the vessel, which arrived from Senegal, even though the bomb threat was later proven to be untrue.

Reference: Splash247

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Source: Maritime Shipping News