One of two holes that took down the MV Siderfly in Germany’s Kiel Canal. Image courtesy CCME
Update for Thursday, November 7, 2013:
The MV Siderfly remains moored near Brunsbüttel within the Kiel Canal, according to AIS data.
A statement by US-based T&T Salvage, which headed the salvaged operation, said that the vessel was safely towed Wednesday to the South Quay at Brunsbüttel for inspection and temporary repairs. T&T Salvage added that following the incident, the company quickly mobilized personnel from Germany and Holland to the site and teamed up with local contractors, Bugsier Reederei and Schramm Group.
The statement also revealed that the vessel was carrying approximately 3,700 metric tons of urea, an animal by-product used in some kinds of fertilizer, when it collided with the Coral Ivory LPG carrier October 28, causing a breach to the port sideshell plating resulting in water ingress and a 22 degree list to port.
Meanwhile, Germany’s Central Command for Maritime Emergencies says it has completed its commitment to the incident after eleven days and has turned over command to the Water and Shipping Authority Brunsbüttel.
Wednesday, November 6, 2013:
MV Siderfly under tow in the Kiel Canal, November 6, 2013. Image courtesy CCME
The stricken MV Siderfly has been removed from an embankment in Germany’s Kiel Canal more than one week after a collision left the vessel grounded and heavily listing in the canal.
Germany’s Central Command for Maritime Emergencies says that two tugs on Wednesday towed the vessel to the nearby port of Brunsbüttel where the vessel moored at approximately 5:45 p.m. local time. The Siderfly, which was carrying a cargo of fertilizer when it collided with a gas carrier October 28, was refloated Monday after lightering operations proved successful.
The 4,380 DWT general MV Siderfly was outbound on the Kiel Canal on Monday, October 28 when it collided with the Dutch-flagged Coral Ivory, carrying [urea], which had just maneuvered into the channel from a docking area a few miles from the canal locks at Brunsbüttel.
The collision tore two large holes into the port side of the Siderfly, causing the ingress of water and a release of diesel fuel into the canal. The Coral Ivory did not sustain any damage in the collision and was brought to the port of Brunsbüttel for inspection.
The canal was closed for three days as crews worked to secure the Siderfy using bulldozers which were attached to the the ship by cables. By Friday crews had removed 450 tons of the fertilizer-water mixture onto four barges. The canal only partially repoened last Thursday to vessels less than 140 meters in length and 17 meters in width.
No injuries were sustained by the combined 28 crewmembers of both vessels.
The CCME says that the vessel was still listing 6° to port when the tugs EUROPE and HANS towed the ship to a harbor in Brunsbüttel Wednesday evening.
The Kiel Canal is the world’s busiest artificial waterway and runs for almost 61 miles, linking the North Sea, by way of the Elbe River at Brunsbüttel, to the Baltic Sea at Kiel-Holtenau. In 2012, a total of 34,879 ships transited the canal according to the canal’s website.
MV Siderfly pictured November 6, 2013 in Germany’s Kiel Canal. Image courtesy CCME
By Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen COPENHAGEN, Feb 10 (Reuters) – A surge in demand for goods like furniture and exercise equipment from locked-down consumers has sparked a jump in shipping rates, boosting profits for...
by Shrivathsa Sridhar (Reuters) – Frenchman Yannick Bestaven was declared the winner of the Vendee Globe round-the-world sailing race early last week after he was handed a time bonus of...
By Sheela Tobben (Bloomberg) American oil exports from Louisiana’s offshore supertanker port jumped to a record in January as Asian buyers are stocking up U.S. crude for a post-pandemic rebound...
February 3, 2021
Total Views: 2989
Sign Up Now for gCaptain Daily
Just enter your email and get hot news every morning
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.