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Vehicles carrier slammed into lock gate in Ijmuiden

The seaward gate of the Northen lock in IJmuiden was damaged in the morning of Apr 23, 2016, when the "City of Rome", heading from Amsterdam to the open sea, could not stop in time upon entering it and punctured it with its bulbous bow. The shio breached the gate on 3x3 meters and penetrated a Ballast tank so that water was flowing into the lock. The water level inside the lock levelled up to the sea Level so that the water inflow could be stopped. A diver was sent down to inspect both the gate and the bow of the ship. He found the bulbous bow had a significant dent, and the damage to the lock was concentrated mostly on the ballast tank which was flooded. The diver found no protruding parts. A full ballast tank was pumped out , so everything remained in balance. Then the gate was tested, and after all went well, it could be used again. The "City of Rome" had to leave the lock backwards and berthed in the Sea Canal A at Velsen North at 3 p.m. It left the berth on Apr 25 at 1 a.m. and headed to Rotterdam, where the ship berthed in the Wilton Port at the Keppel Verolme Shipyard at 10.15. a.m. for repairs to the damage to its bulbous bow.For repairs the gate of the lock must be removed and drydocked probably during a regular maintenance. Only at low tide the top of the hole was protruding from the water. Dutch reports with photos: http://www.ijmuidercourant.nl/regionaal/ijmond/article28033939.ece/Schip-boort-gat-in-deur-Noordersluis?lref=SR_3 http://www.schuttevaer.nl/nieuws/zeevaart/nid24565-autoschip-prikt-bulb-in-buitendeur-sluis-ijmuiden.html http://scheepvaartnieuws.maasmondphoto.nl/autoschip-prikt-bulb-in-buitendeur-sluis-ijmuiden/