Lightering of MV Siderfly Continues in Germany’s Kiel Canal, Vessel Refloated [UPDATE]

Update (Tuesday, November 5, 2013):

Just a quick update for Tuesday… Germany’s Central Command for Maritime Emergencies says that initial lightering operations have been successful. The MV Siderfly is now floating and she is no longer grounded in the canal. Crews will continue to pump water from the vessel to further stabilize.

From Yesterday (November 4, 2013):

The Kiel Canal in Germany remained open to ship traffic Monday as crews work to remove the fertilizer cargo from the partially sunken MV Siderfly.

Germany’s Central Command for Maritime Emergencies says that so far crews have removed about 450 tons of fertilizer-water mixture onto four barges. The remaining fuel oil has already been removed and the ship remains listing but secured by way of land-based bulldozers.

The 4,380 DWT general MV Siderfly was outbound on the Kiel Canal on October 28 when it collided the Coral Ivory gas carrier which had just maneuvered into the channel from a docking area. The collision tore two large holes into the port side of the Siderfly, spilling diesel and leaving the ship on the verge of sinking along the embankment. The Coral Ivory did not sustain any damage in the collision and was brought to the nearby port of Brunsbüttel for inspection.

The canal was closed for three days as crews worked to secure the Siderfly and only repoened last Thursday to vessels less than 140 meters in length and 17 meters wide.

The update Monday said that once the lightering of the Siderfly is completed, divers plan to repair some of the damage to the vessel. The CCME says that the canal will be closed for a short period of time and will provide notice prior to any future closures.

FULL COVERAGE: Kiel Canal Ship Collision

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