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 April 7, the 49 meter long, 122 dwt passenger ship Baltica (IMO: 5302063) sprung a leak in the Baltic Sea near Kühlungsborn, Germany. The Baltica was only 15 minutes from from Kühlungsborn when it suffered water ingress in the engine room. The vessel’s pumps were unable to control the water ingress and the flooding caused the vessel to have steering issues. The vessel was still under command and was able to returned to its berth in Kühlungsborn. Passengers safely disembarked from the Baltica with no reports of injuries.
The local fire brigade arrived on site with dewatering pumps. Three pumps were deployed and took several hours to dewater the engine room. Fire fighters also deployed oil booms to ensure pollution would be contained. Divers will inspect the vessel to determine the source of the water ingress. The incident is under investigation.