The 105 meter long passenger ship Da Vinci caught fire while at anchor on the Rhine at Basel, Switzerland. The fire started in the lower deck of the vessel in the laundry releasing dense smoke. The 67 passengers and 25 crew were able to evacuate the vessel. One person suffered smoke inhalation and was taken to hospital. The local fire brigade from Basel-Stadt were able to extinguish the blaze.
On August 21, the 80 meter long cargo vessel RMS Goole ran aground on the Rhine River near Grietherort, Germany. The RMS Goole was en route to Bibao from Dusseldorf with a cargo of steel when it got stuck on a shoal. Behind the Goole was a container ship, which the Goole had passed on the Rhine earlier. The container ship had no time to veer away and struck the Goole from astern. The Goole sustained significant hull damage, but all above the waterline. No reports of injuries on either vessel. The container vessel reported some damage to its bow. The water police arrived on scene and later allowed both vessels to continue on their voyage after completing an investigation. The RMS Goole proceeded to Rotterdam. No details on the other vessel and its port of call. Damage to the Goole was later estimated to be over 10,000 euros.
The 70 meter long self-propelled barge Noorderlicht sank on the Rhine River near a lock between Amerongen and Laurik, Netherlands. An exhaust pipe had broken in the engine room allowing water to flood into the vessel. The stern of the Noorderlicht partially sank while the bow remained above water. A patch was placed over the leak and the pumps were to dewater the vessel before it can be towed to a nearby shipyard. No reports of injuries.
