Headline: Freighter Sinks in Maas, Disrupting Shipping Between Limmel and Ternaaien
A freighter has run aground this morning on the Maas river, near Maastricht. The incident has brought traffic to a standstill between Limmel and Ternaaien, with Rijkswaterstaat currently working to resolve the issue.
Details of the incident reveal that it occurred near the intake for the Julianakanaal. The cargo hold of the vessel, which was transporting limestone, has sunk. However, Rijkswaterstaat assures that there are no hazardous substances involved, posing no immediate threat to the environment.
Watch the footage of the grounded ship here:
For the crew, the situation was thankfully nondetegrated, with both the captain and his mate managing to escape unharmed. The brandweer and Rijkswaterstaat are on the scene to assess how best to salvage the hold.
Rijkswaterstaat spokesperson told L1 News, "Our primary focus at present is to remove the hold. The drop in water level and increased current could make the operation more challenging."
Recovery efforts are underway, with a crane ship being used to lift the limestone out of the hold and the water. Rijkswaterstaat expects the operation to take several hours, aiming to wrap up by the end of the day.
Notably, this incident differs from the October 2021 event where a cargo ship collided with the lock at Borgharen. That incident disrupted traffic for nearly a week.
Last Updated: Today, 13:56
