On May 21, the 83 meter long, 3480 dwt cargo vessel Fast Herman ran aground in the Baltic Sea near Ruegen, Germany. The Fast Herman was en route to Luebeck from Szczecin when it stranded on the Prerow Bank. The vessel was not able to free itself and requested assistance. A tug was dispatched to the scene and was able to pull the Fast Herman free. The vessels proceeded to Rostock where the Fast Herman will undergo an inspection. No reports of injuries, damage or pollution released.
The 110 meter long self-propelled tanker-barge Piz Palü ran aground on the Rhine near Niederdollendorf, Germany. The Piz Palü was headed to Rotterdam from Königswinter when it collided with the 171 meter long barge-combo Rhenus Thionville 1 and Rhenus Thionville 2. The two barges were headed upstream with a cargo of coal when they collided amidship of the Piz Palü.
The Piz Palü sustained a hull breach above the waterline while the Rhenus Thionville 2 sustained a large dent along its port side. The Piz Palü later drifted aground on a nearby embankment. The tanker-barge was later pulled free later the same day and proceeded to Bonn. No reports of injuries or pollution released.
On May 8, the 44 foot long fishing vessel Arlene Adonna ran aground in the Gulf of St. Lawrence just offshore of L’Ile aux Marins Island near St-Pierre-Miquelon, France. The Arlene Adonna was headed to Cape Breton with 11,000 pounds of snow crab in the hold when it ran onto the rocks. Just a few meters from the shoreline, the heavy surf and cold water temperature made it impossible to wade ashore. The vessel sent out a distress call with the SNSM lifeboat responding. The lifeboat pulled alongside the grounded vessel allowing all five crew to jump to safety. One crewman suffered a minor injury while another required treatment for shock. Reports state the crew were later flown back to St. John’s.
The Arlene Adonna sustained hull damage while on the rocks. Authorities had hope to pull the vessel free, but the fishing vessel will require a survey before any salvage attempt is conducted. Local and Canadian authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.