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Broken barge salvaged

Salvage works in the port of Saarlouis-Dillingen were in full swing to recover the 'Aqua Sprinter II' on March 30. Tne bulk of the cargo of 1.200 tons steel dust had plunged into the Saar but did not pose an environmental hazard. The damage was in a six-didgit region. The remaining cargo was dug out with a dredger. Then the hull was lifted by a crane assisted by 28 helpersof the Technical Support Work (THW) from Dillingen, Saarlouis, Perl Obermosel, Freisen, Heusweiler, Beckingen and Theley so far that the breach at both sides of the hull became accessable. It was stabilized with pontoons which were moored alongside. The barge was continuously dewatered while work started to weld the breaches and stabilize them with additional frames. Then the wreck was removed from the berth and the water depth at the sinking site investigated. Only then the port would be fully operational again. The investigations pointed to an overloading as a cause of the accident due to negligence. German report with photos: https://www.saarbruecker-zeitung.de/saarland/saarlouis/saarlouis/bergung-des-leichters-nach-der-havarie-im-hafen-saarlouis-dillingen_aid-49831021

Barge broke in two

On March 28, 2020, the barge 'Aqua Sprinter II', 2133 ts /EU-No.: 02324814, being pushed by the 'Aqua Sprinter', 2676 ts (EU-No.: 02322913), broke in two at the port of Saarlouis/Dillingen during cargo operations. About 1200 tons of dust from steel production could have entered the Saar. The accident happened at the south quay in the morning. The barge burst amidship when a crane was just filling the cargo hold. The midship section sank, the stern and bow were still protruding from the river. In addition to the Saarlouis fire brigade and the Dillinger Hut plant fire brigade, the water police and the police's long-term criminal service were on scene. The barge was to be recovered during the next few days. A six-didgit damage was assumed. The cargo which was loaded onto the barge consisted of fine metal dust from the Saarstahl Steel Works, so-called LD dust. The substance that has entered the water was not cosidered to be environmentally hazardous. It was to be delivered to an iron briquette manufacturer in the Ruhr area. An employee of the State Office for Environmental Protection and Occupational Safety (LUA) wassent to the accident site and took samples. German reports with photos andd video: https://www.saarbruecker-zeitung.de/saarland/saarlouis/saarland-schiff-im-hafen-dillingen-gesunken-1000-tonnen-staub-in-saar_aid-49798193 https://www.n-tv.de/der_tag/Frachtkahn-zerbricht-beim-Beladen-article21676004.html https://www.sr.de/sr/home/nachrichten/panorama/havarie_schiff_dillinger_hafen_100.html https://www.sol.de/news/update/News-Update,459364/Schiff-im-Hafen-von-Dillingen-teilweise-gesunken,459466