Police investigate fatal Rotterdam port explosion

The blast occurred at around 11:30 on 13 August at oil trader Gunvor Energy Rotterdam, in the Europoort section of the Port of Rotterdam, and the safety of maintenance activities at hazardous industrial sites is now under scrutiny.

The site is a major refinery and storage operation with direct access to the sea and approximately 1.5 million cubic metres of liquid-storage capacity, according to news agency Reuters, which quoted a company spokesperson as saying that Gunvor was cooperating with the authorities.

Dutch police said they were investigating the cause and that there was no immediate indication of sabotage, while keeping all possible scenarios open. A crime scene was established at the facility. The Dutch Labour Inspectorate was also involved in the investigation.

Dutch broadcaster NOS reported that a maintenance team had been working on a section of pipework when the explosion occurred. That detail has not, however, been established as the cause of the blast.

The incident raises potentially important questions about the management of maintenance activities at complex energy terminals: how equipment is isolated and made safe before work, how contractors are controlled, and what safeguards are in place against residual hydrocarbons or vapours.

Gunvor’s own safety policy underlines the significance of the issue. The company describes process safety as a major part of its HSEC governance and says it monitors process-safety incidents and near misses because of their potential consequences for people, the environment and assets.

The explosion was also separate from power problems elsewhere in the port that day, Rotterdam authorities said.

The Gunvor Group has been approached for comment.