Collision on the Waal
The 110 meter long self-propelled tanker-barge Piz Palü collided with the 187 meter long self-propelled barge Rhenus Luenen on the Waal near Kekerdom, Netherlands. The Piz Palü was headed in ballast to Rotterdam when it struck two barges being pushed by the Rhenus Luenen. After the collision, the vessels ran aground onto a nearby crib. The Piz Palü sustained hull damage above the waterline resulting in no water ingress or pollution released.
Authorities were alerted and the local fire brigade dispatched a fireboat to the scene. The Piz Palü was able to be refloated and allowed to continue on to Rotterdam. The Rhenus Luenen remained aground and required to be lightered. The bunker Martina 2 arrived on scene later and assisted in refloating the barges. Reports state there were no injuries on either vessels.