On February 19, a freighter reportedly slammed into the Great Northern Lock of the Kiel Canal in Kiel-Holtenau.
What happened?
The freighter ‘Akacia’ was enroute from Bremerhaven to St. Petersburg when it slammed into the Great Northern Lock of the Kiel Canal in Kiel-Holtenau. The freighter is reported to have slammed the lock gate due to a technical failure of the engine control.
Freighter and lock damaged
The freighter reportedly damaged its bow when it slammed against the lock gate and suffered water ingress. The ship had entered the lock with more than 10 knots which exceeded the allowed maximum speed on the canal.
The collision resulted in partially severing the gate with its bow which was now resting on the gate. The gate was closed down for traffic until the damage has been assessed and rectified. The damage caused is reported to run into several million Euro.
Traffic affected
Since the Great Northern Lock was closed down from sustaining damages only the large Northern lock is available for ship traffic, ships had to wait for the canal transit for many hours.
The freighter was towed out of the gates with the help of the tug ‘Wolfe’. Investigations have been initiated to look into the incident and determine the sequence of events.
Fortunately, no one was injured or any pollution to the environment was caused due to the collision.
Disclaimer: This video is intended for informational purpose only. This may not be construed as a news item or advice of any sort. Please consult the experts in that field for the authenticity of the presentations.
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Source: Spiegel
