Lock head in Wilhelmshaven: Collision with navy ship causes chaos!

Lock head in Wilhelmshaven: Collision with navy ship causes chaos!

Last Sunday evening, a remarkable incident occurred in Wilhelmshaven when the German Navy's task force supplier “Berlin” rammed the head of the lock, causing considerable damage. According to initial reports from north24 The wheelhouse of the measuring point in the north harbor was completely destroyed in this collision. Fortunately, there were no injuries, which makes the situation easier, but the unclear cause of the accident raises questions.

The 174 meter long ship rams the head of the lock between the two chambers of the 4th entrance, destroying the precision of the maritime navigation systems. As a result, debris remained on the rails of the lock gate, which led to the lock being temporarily closed. In order to exclude further danger, Jade Diver divers were commissioned to systematically search the area.

Consequences of the collision

The rescue work, which was supposed to last until the afternoon of the following day, was accompanied by a construction expert who was asked to make suggestions for safety measures. According to initial evaluations, the rubble of the wheelhouse must be secured and demolished. A container is to be set up at the head of the lock as a temporary control center in order to stabilize the situation NWZonline reported.

Remaining damage to the “Berlin” is also minimal: only a dent below the coat of arms on the bow is visible; no further structural damage or technical malfunctions on board were found. Therefore, the “Berlin” was able to continue its planned training program at sea without delays and was finally docked at the southern end of Bremerhaven’s Columbuskaje, without this visit being directly related to the Schadhofdereung.

The role of the Federal Office for Maritime Accident Investigation

The Federal Office for Maritime Accident Investigation (BSU) will pay particular attention to the investigation into the accident. This higher federal authority, which is subordinate to the Federal Ministry of Transport, is responsible for registering all maritime accidents and determining their causes. Their work is less about apportioning blame and more about helping to prevent future accidents, according to information from the BSU website.

This incident is a reminder of how quickly things can get tough on the water. It is now eagerly awaited what lessons will be learned from this accident and how they can be used to improve safety measures at sea.