A 54-year-old dock worker died in a tragic accident aboard a Ro-Ro freighter at the Port of Zeebrugge, Belgium on Tuesday, June 16, 2026.
Georges Van Troostenberghe, a signalman from Blankenberge, was trapped between a stack of containers and the vessel’s bulkhead during cargo loading operations aboard the Malta-flagged ship Delphine, operated by CLdN (Cozzoli Line Deutsche).
The accident occurred around 18:00 (6:00 PM) at the CLdN Albert II Dock terminal. According to eyewitness accounts, a Ro-Ro tug vehicle hit a stack of containers on the cargo deck, causing the cargo to shift suddenly. Van Troostenberghe, who was on duty signaling other longshoremen, was crushed between the containers and the ship’s wall.
Emergency responders arrived quickly but could not save him. He died at the scene.
Van Troostenberghe, a father of five and long-time dock worker, was well-known in his community and an enthusiastic supporter of the annual Blankenberge Carnival.
The public prosecutor’s office in Ghent has opened a criminal investigation into the circumstances of the accident. Maritime police have conducted witness interviews and secured onboard video footage.
A forensic doctor has been appointed to determine the exact cause of death, and a workplace safety inspector has visited the site for examination.
The Delphine was detained in port for police investigation and forensic examination but was cleared to sail on Thursday morning. The vessel is now en route to Dublin, Ireland, with an expected arrival of June 20, 2026.
This is not the first serious incident involving the Delphine at Zeebrugge. In April 2025, a significant fire broke out on the vessel’s third deck while carrying 60 electric vehicles and 40 conventional cars. All 26 crew members were evacuated, and shore-based firefighting teams brought the fire under control.
Authorities are investigating whether safety procedures were properly followed during the loading operation and whether workplace safety regulations were violated.
The Port of Zeebrugge is mourning the loss of Van Troostenberghe, with local Belgian media outlets reporting extensively on the tragedy and highlighting his long service and community involvement.
