A small road tanker arrived at an oil terminal around 6:00 a.m. in order to be loaded with petrol and diesel. The driver parked the tanker too close to the loading bay. When loading was finished, the articulated loading arm, which was extended but not connected, was blocked against the tanker. The driver attempted to unblock it by actuating the tanker’s air suspension. However, this caused the arm to break off at the turbine-meter tube. A total of 300 l of fuel spilled out before the loading automation system could close the safety valves. The spilt fuel flowed into the oily-water network and the discharge valve of the settling tank was closed. The loading bays were flushed with water (68 m³). The liquid waste was appropriately disposed of at a cost of €21,000. The damage to the loading arm was estimated at €5000.

The driver failed to ask site personnel for any assistance in handling the problem. He pushed the wrong button on the controller, which did not have any up/down labels and could be turned in all directions. The terminal operator painted lines on the ground to show drivers where they should park.