The 164 meter long, 12562 dwt vehicle carrier Asian Breeze ran aground in the Kiel Canal off Brunsbüttel, Germany. The car carrier had been caught by a strong wind gust and pushed against the jetty. The Asian Breeze finally struck bottom off the jetty. No reports of injuries or pollution released. A tug was dispatched and freed the vessel later the same day. The Asian Breeze was later to continue on its voyage to Zeebrugge.
The 131 meter long, 8500 dwt cargo vessel Saint George allided with the lock gate on the Kiel Canal at Brunsbüttel, Germany. The Saint George was entering the northern lock when it suddenly increased speed. The crew attempted to stop the vessel with an emergency anchoring, but both anchors were unable to stop the vessel from the striking the lock gate. The gate sustained serious damage making the lock inoperable. The Saint George’s bulbous bow was holed and the bow sustained a gash. No reports of injuries. The Saint George was detained by the water police pending an investigation.
On January 19, the 78 meter long offshore support vessel Red 7 Alliance allided with a gate at Brunsbüttel, Germany. The Red 7 Alliance had slammed into the floodgate with considerable force. The offshore vessel 7 had damaged the hull in the bow with water ingress, but the vessel’s pumps could control the flooding. The gate sustained some 100,000 € in damage and the lock would be inoperable for several weeks. No reports of injuries. The Red 7 Alliance later proceeded to a shipyard in Kiel for repairs.
