The 20 meter long fishing vessel HK-80 Sarah caught fire while berthed in Den Oever, Netherlands. The shrimper had gone into a shipyard for maintenance when flames erupted from the engine room during a routine test. The fire quickly spread through the superstructure and consumed the wheelhouse. Local fire brigade responded, but little could be done to stop the blaze. Reports state the fire damage was considerable. No reports of injuries.
The 85 meter long self-propelled tanker-barge Nicole Burmester ran aground on the Western Scheldt near Terneuzen, Netherlands. The tanker had departed from Antwerp when it mistook a buoy for a harbor light and stranded on a submerged breakwater. The crew requested assistance with multiple tugs responding. The tugs were able to pull the Nicole Burmester free. The tugs then escorted the tanker to the port of Terneuzen. There it berthed and authorities had divers inspect the hull for damage. No reports of injuries. The incident is under investigation.
The 85 meter long self-propelled tanker-barge Blackbear caught fire on the Nieuwe Waterweg in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Some insulation in the engine room caught fire resulting in dense smoke. The local fire brigade was alerted along with the port authority who dispatched vessels to the scene. Aided by the port authorities vessels, the fire was extinguished and the engine room was ventilated to clear out the smoke. One crew of the Blackbear was taken to hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation. The Blackbear was taken under tow to a quay at the port of Koningin Wilhelmina. No reports of damage to the cargo tanks loaded with bio diesel.
