On the afternoon of May 5, the 82.5 meter long, 3480 dwt carbon dioxide tanker Embla (IMO: 9279446) allided on the Kiel Canal in Brunsbüttel, Germany. The Embla was headed for Hamburg from Kiel when it struck the center wall in the new south lock. The Embla only suffered slight damage to its paint and the lock wall only suffered minor damage. There were no injuries and no pollution released. The water police opened an investigation into the incident.
On May 5, the 90 meter long self-propelled barge Tor Elbe (MMSI: 211505920) collided with the 86 meter long self-propelled tanker-barge Daniel Deymann (MMSI: 211888330) at the entrance to the south lock of the Kiel Canal in Brunsbüttel, Germany. The Tor Elbe was entering the lock when it suffered a mechanical fault and struck the Daniel Deymann. While there was no injuries on either vessel, the tanker-barge sustained damage. The Daniel Deymann had hull damage to its stern resulting in water ingress. The Brunsbüttel fire brigade arrived on site and assisted in dewatering the vessel. Reports state the Tor Elbe had only slight damage from the incident.
Authorities took the lock out of service after the incident for several hours while it was inspected. The Daniel Deymann was able to proceed under it’s own power through the lock and proceed on its voyage the following morning to Hamburg. The Tor Elbe remained at Brunsbüttel overnight while authorities conducted an investigation before it was also allowed to continue on its journey. Reports state the Tor Elbe reached Rendsburg the following afternoon.
On the morning of May 5, the 47 meter long towboat Myra Eckstein (MMSI: 367505510) and its tow of barges allided with the Old Highway 80 Bridge on the Mississippi River at Vicksburg, Mississippi. The Myra Eckstein was pushing 25 barges loaded with grain when it struck pier number 4 off the bridge. This is the same location that the towboat Rickey Hughes struck just a few days prior.
Local news reports state the lead barge in the tow struck the bridge before it broke free along with four other barges. Three barges drifted downstream while one other struck pier number 5 of the bridge before it also floated downstream. One barge was holed and sank a short distance downriver. Authorities state the barges did not strike the nearby Interstate 20 bridge.
There were no reports of injuries. Traffic on the Old Highway Bridge has been halted until it can be inspected for damage. The Coast Guard was reported to be onsite at bridge and has launched an investigation into the incident.