On January 18, the 126 meter long, 37690 dwt self-unloader bulk carrier Whitefish Bay (IMO: 9639880 sustained damage on the Detroit River at the Ojibway Salt Mine in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The Whitefish Bay was attempting to dock when it sustained bow damage resulting in a tear in the hull plates nearly 1 meter high above the waterline. While there were no injuries, the damage required the Whitefish Bay to be taken out of service to a shipyard for repairs in Sarnia. The 83 meter long, 2600 dwt Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker Vincent Massey (IMO: 9199622) would escort the Whitefish Bay to Sarnia. The cause of the damage was not disclosed, but there is speculation the damage was caused by an allision or possibly ice.
On the afternoon of January 22, the 110 meter long self-propelled barge Adeline (MMSI: 244010334) ran aground on the Main-Danube Canal near Hausen, Germany. The Adeline was headed to Rotterdam from Würzburg when it suffered steering failure. The vessel’s rudder briefly failed causing the Adeline to veer off course and turn perpendicular striking both riverbanks. The Adeline sustained damage with the hull punctured and uncontrolled water ingress into the Engine Room. With the flooding, oil pollution could be seen leaking from the vessel into the waterway.
Photo: wochenblatt.de
Local authorities were alerted with the fire brigade and emergency personnel to assist. Dewatering pumps were engaged on the Adeline to control the flooding while an oil pollution boom was deployed to contain any pollution released. Divers were called from Würzburg to make repairs below the waterline. The oil pollution was later pumped out of the canal. Reports state that ice and oil pollution made repairs difficult, but the situation was under control.
Photo: deutschlandfunk.de
Photo: tvo.de
Photo: merkur.de
Photo: fraenkischertag.de
The water police had stopped traffic on the canal around Hausen during the incident and would not reopen until the following day. An investigation has been launched into the incident. There are estimates that the Adeline had sustained at least 10.000 € in damage. Authorities have not stated how much pollution had been released into the canal. There were no reports of injuries.
