Barge Collides with Bridge in Spannenburg; Stuurhut Destroyed, Stuurman Injured
In a late-night incident, a barge collided with a bridge in Spannenburg, causing significant damage and injuring the barge’s stuurman. The duwboot Aries, a push boat, sustained substantial damage during the collision.
The bridge’s stuurhut, designed to retract for clearance, was decimated by the impact. Officials believe the stuurhut was raised too high, restricting the barge’s passage beneath the bridge.
Christiaan Kooistra of Rijkswaterstaat informed that the precise cause remains unclear. "We can’t draw definitive conclusions yet," he said. "For better visibility, stuurhuts are often raised. However, they should lower when approaching a bridge."
The stuurman sustained minor injuries, including scratches and shock. He was admitted to a local hospital for routine checks.
The Prinses Margrietkanaal was temporarily closed, but has since reopened with restrictions on vessel height.
Net-like structures and lamps under the bridge were also damaged and are being repaired using a high-reach work vehicle.
Authorities, including the police and the Inspectie Leefomgeving en Transport (ILT), are investigating the incident. More updates will follow as the situation develops.
