The 86 meter long self-propelled barge Tokaj 2 allided with a railroad bridge over IJssel River near Zutphen, Netherlands. The wheelhouse of the Tokaj 2 was torn off, but no one was injured in the incident. Rail traffic was halted while the bridge until it was inspected. No reports of damage to the bridge or pollution released.
On February 29, the 85 meter long self-propelled barge Stör allided with a railway bridge over the Stör River in Itzehoe, Germany. The Stör was attempting to berth just before the bridge when it suffered engine failure and could not slow its approach. The barge slammed into the bridge crushing the barge’s wheelhouse. The two crew narrowly escaped by jumping out of the wheelhouse and were uninjured. The Stör remained wedged under the bridge until the tide dropped. Rail traffic resumed a few hours later. The Stör was pulled free and berthed nearby. No reports of pollution released.
The 80 meter long self-propelled barge Marlesri went aground on the Ruhr near Duisburg, Germany. The Marlesri, loaded with scrap, was en route from the Netherlands when it touched bottom suffering hull damage in the bow. The Marlesri suffered water ingress and the vessel’s pumps were unable to keep up with the flooding. The crew requested assistance with the local fire brigade responding. Divers were dispatched and temporary repairs along with a dewatering pump brought the flooding under control. The Marlesri proceeded then to Duisburg where it unloaded its cargo of scrap metal.
