Is there a hole in your ship’s hull? That’s what the maritime emergency kit is for. It can save you valuable time. But what exactly is in it?
Prevention is better than cure. But as with any emergency, training, preparation and vigilance can make all the difference.
Quinten Perneel,Incident Management Officer
“When you buy a first-aid or emergency kit, you naturally hope you’ll never need to use it,” says Incident Management Officer Quinten Perneel of Port of Antwerp-Bruges. Prevention is better than cure. But as with any emergency, training, preparation and vigilance can make all the difference.”
Every second counts
“That is why, several years ago, we put together a maritime emergency kit. It is designed to prevent ships that are taking on water from actually sinking. You want to keep a ship afloat for as long as possible. Every second counts This gives the people on board time to get to safety, secure the cargo, keep the waterway open or manoeuvre the ship to a safe location.
Balloons and plasters
Quinten Perneel demonstrating the Salvage Bags from the maritime emergency kit. Is a ship taking on water through a small hole in its hull? The maritime emergency kit offers two ways to seal the breach. “To seal a leak from the inside, we use inflatable Salvage Bags. They are essentially balloons contained in a portable bag. They are made from Kevlar, an extremely strong material. The emergency services push the balloon into the breach and inflate it. When an inland vessel was at risk of sinking in early 2026, the Salvage Bags had already proved their worth.”
“If it is easier to seal the hole in the ship’s hull from the outside, we use magnetic plasters. The largest one measures more than two metres by two metres and is extremely heavy. Emergency responders bring them to the ship and, together with a diving team, apply them to the hull like a giant plaster. These plasters also help prevent oil or other liquids from leaking into the water.”
Source: Port of Antwerp
