The 85 meter long self-propelled barge Nautic 1 broke-in-two while on the Rhine-Herne Canal at Gelsenkirchen, Germany.  The Nautic 1 was being loaded with a cargo of scrap metal when the vessel suffered hull failure amidships. The vessel’s stern sank while the bow was thrust out of the water into air. No reports of injuries of the three crew on board.  The local fire brigade responded to the scene and placed oil boom around the vessel as some oil pollution was released from the submerged engine room.  A crane was requested to help raise the Nautic 1 in the following week.  Reports state the cause of the incident was due to failure to distribute the cargo while loading along with the age of the hull.  The Nautic 1 was built in 1957.

Photo: derwesten.de