The 180 meter long self-propelled barge Jochenstein with a second barge in tow went aground on the Danube River near Pfelling, Germany. No reports of injuries or pollution being released. Both vessels were loaded with a cargo of iron ore.
The 135 meter long passenger ship Flamenco suffered a fire in the vessel’s galley while cruising on the Danube River near Pichelsdorf, Austria. The fire started in one of the galley’s ovens releasing dense smoke. The crew quickly evacuated the passengers from their cabins onto the deck. Passengers were wrapped in blankets on deck while firefighters spent two hours extinguishing the blaze. The galley was destroyed in the fire, but firefighters prevented any damage to other parts of the vessel. No reports of injuries to the crew or the 140 passengers on board. The Flamenco was allowed to continue upstream with all 140 passengers on board. Initial reports state the likely cause of the fire were rolls which were forgotten in the oven.
The level of the Danube has led to several ship groundings. The self-propelled barge “Hall”, loaded with 850 tons of canola, went aground on a gravel bar on the Danube near Deggendorfer. The tug Domarin 12 was able to pull the “Hall” free. The “Hall” suffered damage to its bow thruster and is being detained by the Water Police.
The passenger vessel Primadonna was reported aground on a sand bank near the town of Bechet, Romania. The vessel with 150 passengers on board got stuck on the bank due to the low water levels. The passengers were safely unloaded and were continuing their trip overland. Reports state the were 28 other vessels detained in ports in Romania due to the low water level.
