A criminal investigation is underway regarding a bomb threat on board a containership identified as MSC Lorena, the Dutch police confirmed.
The vessel was diverted from the Port of Antwerp following a threatening phone call saying that a bomb would explode if the ship docked in the port, according to local media reports.
The 4,800 TEU vessel was en route from Dakar, Senegal to Antwerp when it received the call. Following the incident, the captain of the vessel was told by the police not to proceed with the voyage but make a U-turn on the Scheldt river.
The Panamian-flagged Panamax containership, built in 2006 and operated by MSC, altered its course and anchored at Vlissingen out of precaution.
Both the Dutch and Belgian police are looking into the threat. The crew of the vessel can remain on board the vessel while the ship remains at anchor.
MSC and the Port of Antwerp are yet to provide Offshore Energy with a statement on the matter.
Source: World Maritime News
