Cargo ship blocked Main: Second rescue attempt succeeds – at the expense of the “Mainkuh”?
Created: 12/26/2022, 1:41 p.m
By: Felix Herz
On Sunday afternoon, a ship loaded with asphalt granules blocked the Main in Würzburg.
© Heiko Becker/dpa
A cargo ship blocked the Main in Würzburg, probably due to a driving error by the skipper.
Now the problem is solved - but damage is possible.
Update from December 25, 7:10 p.m .:
A cargo ship that has been standing on the Main in Würzburg for two days has now been towed free.
A new attempt was successful, said a spokesman for the city of Würzburg.
Among other things, the matter was approached with several and stronger boats.
In addition, more space has been created for maneuvering.
The ship, which is more than 100 meters long, should now drive to a pier under its own power and then be examined in detail for damage.
The old Main Bridge for pedestrians and cyclists has now been released again.
The city spokesman said the rising water levels would have raised the ship.
On the one hand, this could have made the towing attempt easier, but at the same time the cargo ship touched the restaurant ship "Mainkuh" lying next to it, which is now also to be examined for damage.
The "Mainkuh" was then relocated to create more space for the manoeuvre.
According to initial findings, the cause of the incident at the Würzburg lock was probably a driving error by the 35-year-old skipper, the police said.
The ship, which according to the city of Würzburg loaded around 2,700 tons of asphalt granulate, was then driven sideways and was unable to manoeuvre.
The investigation is ongoing.
Main blocked by cargo ship: Preparations for another salvage attempt are underway
Update from December 25:
A goods motor ship is still blocking the Main in Würzburg.
Another towing attempt on the morning of Christmas Day failed, according to a city spokesman.
Thus, the Main will remain closed to shipping until further notice, as will the Main Bridge to car traffic.
However, the ship poses no immediate danger to people or the environment.
"It's difficult to say how long the recovery will take," a city spokesman said.
"As far as I know, ships are not currently damming up on the Main because shipping traffic is currently very quiet." Another attempt is being prepared.
This requires more space for maneuvering.
The floating facility of the "Mainkuh" restaurant, with which the ship initially threatened to collide, should therefore be removed.
A section of the promenade and the cycle path on Willy-Brandt-Kai will also remain closed for the time being.
According to initial findings, the cause of the incident at the Würzburg lock was probably a driving error by the 35-year-old skipper (see initial report), as the police announced.
The ship, which according to the city of Würzburg loaded more than 2,700 tons of asphalt granulate, was then driven sideways and was unable to manoeuvre.
The investigation is ongoing.
Goods ship lies across the Main: skipper's driving error - river blocked for shipping
A cargo ship lies across the Main near Würzburg and blocks the river.
It's stuck.
© Heiko Becker/HMB Media/dpa
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First report from December 24:
Würzburg - They belonged in every review of the past year: In April 2021, the gigantic container ship "Ever Given" turned aside and blocked the Suez Canal, immensely important for international trade for freight ships.
Nothing progressed for days, and the traffic jam had an impact on the economy around the world.
A very similar scenario - of course with fewer consequences - has been taking place on the Main near Würzburg since Friday, December 23rd.
There, a motorized cargo ship wrecked and could not be freed so far.
As the police announced on Saturday, December 24, the goods motor ship was heading down the Main at around 4 p.m. on Friday and had just passed the Ludwig Bridge when the accident took its course.
According to initial investigations, the ship almost collided with another oncoming motorized cargo ship before it turned aside due to another driving error by the 35-year-old skipper, according to the police.
It "rammed the foredeck of the lock's separating dam, wedged itself and threatened to collide with the floating facility, the "Mainkuh" restaurant," according to the press release from the police headquarters in Lower Franconia.
The restaurant was consequently evacuated by officials, and the Main Bridge was also briefly closed to pedestrians.
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Cargo ship blocks the Main – first rescue measures fail
Initially, several attempts were made to bring the goods motor ship back into position with a tug boat – without success.
Fire brigade and THW emergency services then secured the ship with technical equipment.
For the time being it remains in this position, the main is blocked.
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According to the police, the Würzburg water protection police took over the investigation against the 35-year-old skipper.
Fortunately, no one was injured in the accident, but it remains to be seen whether there was any damage to property.
Around 150 emergency services were on site during the operation, which the police said lasted into the night.
After all: Christmas presents, which are now coming too late, were not loaded on the cargo ship.
Unless someone really had special requests: It transported asphalt granulate.
(fhz)
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