Hamburg – Page 2 – Shipwreck Log

The 30 meter long passenger vessel Großer Michel ran aground on the Elbe near Hamburg, Germany. The Großer Michel was charted out for a voyage along the Rissen shoreline with 54 passengers. While off Falkensteiner Ufer, the passenger ship suffered a technical fault and ran aground.

The crew alerted the port authorities that the vessel was aground. The Großer Michel attempted to free itself on the receding tide, but quickly found itself high and dry. Vessels from the water police and local fire brigade arrived on scene a short time later and safely evacuated all the passengers off the vessel. No reports of injuries.

Reports state the Großer Michel was to be refloated on the next high tide. The vessel was to be surveyed for damage. The water police have launched an investigation into the incident.

Hanni

December 4, 2016 Paul Hancock

The 118 meter long container ship Hanni ran aground on the Elbe near Mühlenberger Hole, Germany. The Hanni departed Hamburg for Bremerhaven and was heading to the North Sea when it suffered engine failure while between Blankenese and Finkenwerder. The Hanni drifted before running aground near the south shore.

A tug was dispatched and was unable to refloat the boxship. A second attempt failed to free the Hanni even with an additional tug and the rising tide. The Hanni was finally freed 12 hours later with four tugs. The Hanni proceeded to Hamburg. No reports of injuries, damage or pollution released.

CCNI Arauco

September 4, 2016 Paul Hancock

On September 1, the 300 meter long, 112,588 dwt container ship CCNI Arauco caught fire while berthed in Hamburg, Germany. The fire started while welding work on a container in the aft cargo hold. The welding caused a deflagration where the container caught fire. The flames then spread through the lower decks. A large plume of smoke reaching over 50 meters high could be seen from the aft hold of the CCNI Arauco. Some 300 fire fighters along with several fire boats arrived on scene. Initial attempts to douse the flames using carbon dioxide were unsuccessful.

The fire continued to burn the following day. Some 5,000 cubic meters of water was pumped into the vessel, but the use of water was halted when concerns over the stability of the boxship. The next day, firefighters used foam to final extinguish the blaze. Reports state the fire was so hot that many containers had partially melted or deformed. Three persons on board suffered minor injuries and were later taken to hospital.