The port of Antwerp from the air

Belgium, 51°17′N 4°17′E

Bunker Supplier in Antwerp

Bunkering at Antwerp is done by permitted bunker vessels, and mass flow meters have been mandatory since 1 January 2026. The port is in the North Sea ECA, so the limit is 0.10%.

Photo: DHSgov, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons

Sulphur
0.10% (North Sea ECA)
Quantity
Mandatory meter since 2026
Notice
Through APICS
Volume
Q1 2026: about 2.5 million tonnes

Bunkering in Antwerp

ENGINE reports that Antwerp-Bruges sold about 2.5 million tonnes of bunkers in the first quarter of 2026, overtaking Rotterdam for that quarter. Sales included 955,000 tonnes of VLSFO, 718,000 of HSFO, 338,000 of MGO and 164,000 of ULSFO. LNG set a port record at 90,000 tonnes.

The meter rule started on the same date at both ports and is written into the bunker vessel permit. Belgium is strict on scrubbers: UK P&I's 2019 list shows open loop as banned, and an OSPAR decision bans open-loop discharge in ports and internal waters from July 2027 and closed-loop from January 2029.

Container ship Moscow Maersk at Deurganck Dock, Antwerp, at night
Container ship Moscow Maersk at Deurganck Dock, Antwerp, at night Photo: Parttimephotographer, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Bunkering Process in Antwerp

  1. Antwerp or Zeebrugge

    Vessel name, IMO, berth, ETA, grades and quantities. State whether it is Antwerp or Zeebrugge.

  2. Notification

    The port's notification system is APICS.

  3. Metered Delivery

    The bunker vessel permit includes the meter requirement, mandatory since 1 January 2026.

  4. Documents

    After delivery, the BDN is kept for three years and the sample for at least 12 months.

Bunkering Requirements in Antwerp

Rules change. Confirm current practice with the port agent.

  • Scrubbers

    UK P&I's 2019 list says open loop is banned in Belgium and washwater discharge is prohibited within 3 miles of the coast. Ask your agent about current practice before arrival.

  • EU Rules

    Directive 2016/802 applies 0.10% at berth and requires the changeover time in the logbook, with exemptions for ships at berth under two hours and ships on shore power. FuelEU Maritime covers ships above 5,000 GT calling at EU ports under any flag: well-to-wake GHG intensity must be 2% below the 2020 baseline in 2025 and 6% below in 2030.

World ECA map: 0.10% sulphur areas

Products and Quotes for Antwerp

We quote for fuel oil (including VLSFO), gas oil (MGO) and marine lubricants. For details see Fuel Oil and Gas Oil and Marine Oils.

Antwerp Bunker Supply: Common Questions

Antwerp or Rotterdam?

Route, price and waiting decide. The rules are close, and meters are mandatory at both.

Is Antwerp inside the ECA?

Yes, the North Sea ECA, with a 0.10% limit.

Is LNG available at Antwerp?

Yes. A record 90,000 tonnes was reported for the first quarter of 2026.