On August 3, the 80 meter long self-propelled tanker-barge Karin sprung a leak on the Rhine River off Mainz, Germany. The Karin was loaded with 1650 tons of nitric acid when the master discovered the vessel had water ingress in the area between the outer hull and the tanks. Unable to control the flooding and the vessel developing a list, the Karin dropped anchor off the DLRG station at Mainz. Local firefighters were alerted who brought pumps to help dewater the tanker which were able to stabilize the Karin.

The owners of the Karin dispatched another tanker to lighter the cargo of acid off the vessel.  Divers inspected the vessel’s hull, but were unable to find the source of the leak.  Authorities determined the Karin was safe to proceed to a shipyard in Duisburg for repairs. No reports of injuries or pollution released.