The 49 meter long fishing vessel Neptun AS 202 became disabled in the North Sea off Thyborøn, Denmark. The trawler had gone adrift after suffering engine failure. The crew alerted authorities who dispatched a DSRS lifeboat to the scene. The lifeboat took the Neptun under tow and returned to port a few hours later. No reports of injuries, damage or pollution released.
The 80 meter long self-propelled barge Nawa 9 broke-in-two and sank on the Elbe at Hamburg, Germany. The Nawa 9 was loading a cargo of iron silicate near the Norder Elbe Bridge when the vessel suffered structural failure in the cargo hold.
The hull cracked and quickly flooded forcing the three crew to jump overboard. The Nawa 9 partially sank with only part of the bow and wheelhouse above water. No reports of injuries.
The local fire brigade was alerted. The brigade placed booms around the wreck to contain any pollution released. Reports state the water police halted traffic around the wreck.
On April 23, the 77 meter long, 1426 dwt cargo vessel Nabil J ran aground just outside the port of Saida, Sidon, Lebanon. The Nabil J had arrived from Iskenderun and had dropped anchor at the anchorage off Sidon on April 11. The vessel remained moored until April 23 when the anchor chain snapped. Pushed by strong winds, the Nabil J was blown ashore. The cargo vessel landed parallel a few meters off the rocky breakwater at Sidon. Reports state the vessel had been pounded by the surf, but no reports of injuries.
Reports state authorities have requested tugs to help pull the Nabil J off the beach. There is some concern that the cargo vessel will suffer hull damage and release fuel oil into the water damaging the nearby fisheries and beaches.
