- A large cargo vessel carrying scrap metal caught fire at the Amsterdam Scrap Terminal on May 15. Emergency crews used fireboats, cranes, and ladder trucks throughout the night.
- Smoke from the fire led to widespread NL-Alerts across Amsterdam and nearby regions. Reports of breathing difficulties and soot fallout were widespread.
- While no injuries were reported and all crew members remained safe, authorities launched an investigation into the cause of the fire.
A massive fire erupted on a large cargo vessel loaded with scrap metal at the Amsterdam Scrap Terminal on Thursday afternoon, May 15. The incident occurred at the Vlothavenweg dock in the western port area of Amsterdam, where the vessel had been moored since arriving from Le Havre, France, on May 9, as reported by Marine Insight.
Efforts to Control Fire Face Difficulties
The Dutch fire brigade reported that the fire broke out at 17:02 local time on Thursday in cargo hold No. 4 of the vessel. Firefighters initially attempted to control the blaze by removing the burning scrap metal from the hold and extinguishing it on shore—a method that proved successful for the initial hold. However, by around 06:00 on Friday morning, the fire had spread to cargo hold No. 3.
The intense heat weakened and collapsed the hatches of hold No. 3, rendering the interior inaccessible and forcing emergency crews to abandon their original strategy. Fire crews continued working through the night and into Friday, deploying fireboats, cranes, and ladder trucks to spray water onto the vessel and remove debris where possible.
Widespread Smoke and Public Safety Alerts
According to the Amsterdam-Amstelland Safety Region, the fire was fully extinguished by approximately 8:45 p.m. on Friday. Until then, the blaze generated thick clouds of smoke that drifted across large parts of Amsterdam and surrounding areas.
In response, the Dutch government issued five NL-Alerts—emergency notifications sent to mobile phones—urging residents in affected zones to close windows and doors and turn off ventilation systems. The initial alerts targeted the area between Vlothavenweg and the A10-Zuid near Nieuwe Meer, but as wind conditions changed, the smoke spread toward central Amsterdam.
Residents across western and central Amsterdam, as well as in areas as distant as Amstelveen, Zaanstreek, Nieuwkoop, Alphen aan den Rijn, and Gouda, reported soot deposits, a strong chemical-like odor, and breathing difficulties.
Public Safety Measures and Cause Under Investigation
Fire department teams actively monitored air quality during the incident and reported that, despite the unpleasant odor, there were no elevated levels of toxic substances detected. Nonetheless, residents were advised to keep windows and doors closed to prevent soot particles from entering their homes. Authorities also warned against consuming vegetables grown in gardens exposed to the smoke and recommended cleaning soot-covered surfaces with warm water and soap. No injuries were reported, and all crew members were confirmed safe. An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the fire.
The incident occurred at a metal recycling facility that exports scrap metal to various countries, including Turkey. It involved a large cargo vessel frequently used for metal transport operations at the terminal. Notably, a similar fire had taken place at the port just weeks earlier, raising concerns about safety protocols in handling such materials.
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Source: MarineInsight
