On the evening of January 14, the 73 meter long self-propelled container barge Hermes (MMSI: 205490990) caught fire on the Ghent Ringvaart near Merelbeke, Belgium. Reports state a boiler caught fire and released dense smoke. Local authorities and fire fighters were alerted and arrived on scene to find the blaze already extinguished. The fire fighters helped ventilate the vessel and stood down an hour later. No reports of injuries or pollution released.
On the night of January 6, the 110 meter long self-propelled container-barge Nijmegen Max (MMSI: 244012151) ran aground on the Maas River near Roermond, Netherlands. The Nijmegen Max was leaving Roermond when it ran up on a breakwater. The bow of the vessel remained firmly stuck while the stern still in the navigation channel. Authorities halted traffic between Linne and Roermond while the barge could be salvaged.
Reports state the Nijmegen Max was able to refloat itself the following day. No reports of injuries or pollution released. This is second accident for the Nijmegen Max within a few months. On September 11, the Nijmegen Max struck the Willems Bridge on the Nieuwe Maas River.
On the early morning of December 5, the 106 meter long, 3850 tonnes self-propelled container-barge River Drone 5 (MMSI: 205565590) collided with the 155 meter long, 13101 dwt container ship Containerships VIII (IMO: 9336244) on the Scheur River near Rotterdam at Maassluis, Netherlands. Reports state witnesses heard a loud bang as the two vessel struck and 4 empty containers fell overboard into the water and washed up on the riverbank. There were no details to know which vessel lost the containers. The salvage vessel Hebo Cat 7 was able to recover the lost containers from the river and along the bank.
Both the River Drone 5 and Containerships VIII remained afloat after the incident. No details were released on the extent of damage, or if there were any injuries or pollution released. Reports do state the River Drone 5 did have the bridge manned with a qualified captain at the time of the incident.
