Chemical Leak on MSC Soraya Triggers Hamburg Emergency

On July 20, a container onboard the Panama-registered container ship MSC Soraya began leaking a hazardous chemical while the vessel was docked at Hamburg Port’s Waltershofer Damm terminal in Germany, prompting a swift emergency response.

The spill occurred around noon, when a substance known as Lipaton—an industrial binder commonly used in coatings—started seeping from a container. The chemical spilled onto the ship’s deck and into the nearby harbor basin, causing immediate concern for environmental safety.

In reaction to the leak, the Hamburg fire department launched a containment effort involving two fireboats and expert teams from its technical and environmental units. Crews deployed containment booms and oil snares to stop the chemical from spreading into the River Elbe. While some of the material did enter the water, authorities stated that a more serious environmental impact was successfully avoided.

By around 3:30 p.m., emergency teams had completed the containment operation. The cause of the leak remains under investigation.