The 80 meter long self-propelled tanker-barge Bitumina 3 caught fire while berthed at a shipyard at Mülheim, Germany. Local fire brigades from Cologne were alerted as smoke was spotted coming from the vessel. A search of the vessel found some insulation material had caught fire between two tanks. The fire was quickly extinguished. No reports of injuries, damage or pollution released.
The 110 meter long self-propelled tanker-barge Piz Palü ran aground on the Rhine near Niederdollendorf, Germany. The Piz Palü was headed to Rotterdam from Königswinter when it collided with the 171 meter long barge-combo Rhenus Thionville 1 and Rhenus Thionville 2. The two barges were headed upstream with a cargo of coal when they collided amidship of the Piz Palü.
The Piz Palü sustained a hull breach above the waterline while the Rhenus Thionville 2 sustained a large dent along its port side. The Piz Palü later drifted aground on a nearby embankment. The tanker-barge was later pulled free later the same day and proceeded to Bonn. No reports of injuries or pollution released.
The 80 meter long self-propelled tanker barge Bernhard Burmester collided with the 95 meter long self-propelled tanker barge Dettmer Tank 81 on the Elbe Side Canal near Bad Bodenteich, Germany. The two barges collided head-on with enough force that they became entangled. It required a few hours for authorities to separate the two barges The Bernhard Burmester had sustained severe hull damage to the bow resulting in water ingress. The Dettmer Tank 81 sustained only minor damage. No reports of injuries and no pollution was released.
Both vessels were later secured along the canal bank. The Bernhard Burmester partially sank at the bow, but there was no worry of pollution released as the tank hold remains intact. The water police has launched an investigation into the incident. Damage to the Bernhard Burmester is reported to be over 100.000 €.