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Tag: Rhine

Piz Palü

Piz Palü

Piz Palü
Photo: express.de

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.

Sound Of Music

Sound Of Music

Sound of Music
Photo: presseportal.de

On January 5, the 110 meter long passenger ship Sound Of Music sustained damage on the Rhine at Mainz, Germany. The Sound Of Music was headed to Strasbourg without passengers for winter lay up and had berthed for the night at Mainz.

Later that day, another barge was proceeding on the Rhine. As it approached a bend in the river near Mainz, the barge’s  bow thruster failed. Unable to steer, the barge struck into the starboard hull of the Sound Of Music. The passenger ship sustained some damage and dents between decks. The barge only sustained only minor scratches. No reports of injuries or pollution released.  

Sound Of Music

Reports state the Sound Of  Music was allowed to depart on the following day. An investigation revealed the bow thruster had been fouled by small pebbles due to the low water level on the Rhine.

Stiro

Stiro

Stiro
Photo: rp-online.de

On December 20, the 100 meter long self-propelled barge Stiro ran aground on the Rhine between Voerde and Rheinberg, Germany. The Stiro, loaded with a cargo of gravel, had become stuck on the river near Götterswickerhamm and was unable to free itself. No reports of injuries or pollution released. Nearby traffic on the Rhine was blocked. It was determined that the Stiro would need to be lightered before it could be pulled free.

Stiro

The following day, a crane barge arrived on scene and begun to lighter some 250 tons of gravel from the Stiro’s cargo hold. A few hours into the lightering, the crane touched a high voltage cable that were above the vessels. One cable broke while another electric cable was damaged. No report of injuries. The crane barge was able to complete lightering operations later that day. The Stiro was able to refloat a short time later.  The electrical cables were replaced a few days later. Reports state the damage was over 100,000€.