On April 9, the 67 meter long self-propelled tanker-barge Rodort 8 allided with a railway bridge over the Rhine-Herne Canal in Herne, Germany. The wheelhouse of the Rodort 8 struck the underside of the bridge and was destroyed. The master of the Rodort 8 was injured and taken to hospital for treatment.
The Rodort 8 was towed to a nearby quay. Reports state damage to the Rodort 8 was over 100,000 €. The water police has launched an investigation into the incident.
The 225 meter long, 74269 dwt bulk carrier Vitaspirit allided with the shoreline on the Bosphorus under the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge near Istanbul, Turkey. The Vitaspirit had become disabled after its rudder became stuck. Unable to steer, the bulk carrier ran against the shoreline striking the 18th century Hekimbaşı Salih Efendi mansion. The mansion was nearly destroyed, but there were no reports of injuries or pollution released from the Vitaspirit.
Traffic was halted on the Bosphorus until the Vitaspirit could be towed away. Reports state there was a pilot on board and the vessel had suffered a mechanical malfunction with the rudder.
The 107 meter long self-propelled barge Sonja allided with the Friedrich-Ebert Bridge over the Rhine river near Duisburg-Ruhrort, Germany. The Sonja was passing under the bridge when it’s aft crane boom struck the underside of the bridge. The crane was bent backwards and a cable run underneath the bridge was torn off. No reports of injuries. Traffic was halted until the bridge could be inspected for damage. Authorities have detained the Sonja while it conducts an investigation. Reports state the vessel was en route to Antwerp.
