The 80 meter long self-propelled barge Ella collided with the 144 meter long tanker Mar Elena 1 at Hamburg, Germany.  The Ella was proceeding from a quay into the turning basin when it was spotted by the Mar Elena 1.  The tanker reversed engines and turned hard to port to avoid the collision, but it still swiped the barge with its forepeak.  The Ella sustained multiple hull breaches and its cargo holds began to flood.  Authorities quickly responded to the scene with dewatering pumps.  Pumps ran continuously while several other barges were brought to the scene to help lighter the Ella’s cargo of 1100 tons of wheat. Divers were later able to make temporary repairs to allow the Ella to proceed to a shipyard. The Mar Elena 1 was allowed to proceed on its voyage to Oxelösund. The water police has launched an investigation into the incident. Reports state that alcohol and drug tests were negative.