DE ZONNEBLOEM

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River cruise ship sank bridge

In the morning of Mar 7, 2015, at 6.15 a.m. the "De Zonnebloem" allided with a temporary bridge over the Pannerdensch Canal at Pannerden. The bridge plunged into the water. The river cruise ship was on the way home to Arnhem after the first cruise of the season. On board were 69 guests, 63 volunteers and 12 crew members. The bridge, a kind of scaffolding on iron poles, lay in the Pannerdensch Channel off the Pannerdense Waard, just past Pannerden. The ship slammed into the bridge with the starboard side stern. It tore a hole into the hull and broke three windows. The bridge was pushed off the metal posts and disappeared in the water. The skipper alerted the police. The company Desanding Martens & Van Oord estimated the damage to the bridge to be 20,000 to 30,000 Euros. The bridge was to be hoisted from the water in the afternoon of Mar 8. The hole in the hull of the "De Zonnebloem" was temporarily patched and the windows temporarily covered with plastic. Permanent repairs were to be carried out after the next cruise, which was due to start on Mar 9. Dutch report with photo: http://www.gelderlander.nl/regio/liemers/rijnwaarden/cruiseschip-schampt-brug-in-pannerdensch-kanaal-1.4797683