On August 21, the 28 meter long pusher tug SCH 2640 (MMSI: 211518830) released pollution on the northern Elbe River near Hamburg, Germany. The SCH 2640 had a suffered a leak in one of its fuel tanks releasing 2,000 litres of diesel fuel into the Peute Port. Authorities were alerted and dispatched a response team to the scene. Responders placed booms and absorption pads to contain the fuel from spreading into the river while the remaining 2 tons of fuel was pumped into a secondary fuel tank on the SCH 2640. Divers from the Hamburg fire brigade were able to make temporary repairs. Reports state the response took approximately 5 hours to complete.
Photo: mopo.de
Photo: ndr.de
Photo: abendblatt.de
The SCH 2640 will undergo repairs to fix the damage to the fuel tank. A company has been contracted to clean up the diesel fuel. No reports of injuries.
On the evening of August 20, the 106 meter long self-propelled barge River Drone 4 (IMO: 9973573) sustained damage on the Albert Canal near Olen, Belgium. The River Drone 4 had passed through the lock in Olen when it’s hull suffered an approximately 15 centimeter long hole near the fuel tank. The damage ruptured the fuel tank releasing some 10 tons of gas oil to be released into the canal. The pollution formed a oil slick that was nearly 20 kilometer long with the pollution collecting along one bank of the canal.
Authorities responded by closing the lock at Olen along with placing booms upstream to contain the spill. A pollution response team began cleaning and removing the sludge. Reports stated the majority of the spill had been cleaned by the next day. The water police have launched an investigation into the incident. No reports of injuries.
On August 12, a fixed-wing aircraft flew over the 39 foot long, 22 gt fishing vessel Karolee (Coast Guard ID: 248180) and attempted to make contact. The aircraft got no response from the fishing vessel. Flying over the vessel the Coast Guard found no signs of distress, but there was no activity on board the vessel. The next day the 26 meter long Coast Guard Cutter Sea Lion (MMSI: 366999610) was dispatched to intercept the Karolee. The cutter reached the fishing vessel in the morning and found no one on board. The vessel had been rigged for fishing, the vessel lights were enabled and all the safety equipment was still in place. The only problem was there were no one on the vessel. The Sea Lion took the Karolee under tow and proceeded to Eureka, California where the fishing vessel was moored.
The Coast Guard launched a search between Cape Flattery up to La Push, Washington along the track the Karolee had travelled. After searching hundreds of miles from the water and the sea, the search was called off. The Coast Guard found no signs of the crew of the Karolee.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. What is known so far is that the fishing vessel Karolee departed from Washington with a single person on board. The sole person on board sent out a text message on the morning of August 8. He stated the weather was foggy and nearly had a collision with a whale. No further communication was sent from the vessel. The AIS system tracked the Karolee as it proceeded south at four knots along the Washington and Oregon coast. Several vessels had attempted to contact the Karolee, but got no response.
Photo: United States Coast Guard
It is uncertain what exactly happened on board the Karolee. At some point between August 8 and August 12, the sole crew member on board went overboard. The fishing vessel continued on its course south unmanned. It is unlikely any other details of what exactly happened on the fishing vessel will be known.
Photo: United States Coast Guard
The Karolee was built in 1945 and had been used for fishing salmon and albacore tuna. The vessel had been based in Port Townsend until 2018 and was reported to be based near Quilcene.
