SYMPATHIE

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

Ems Canal reopened

On Nov 8 at 3 p.m. the span of the Borg Bridge in Groningen was removed by three cranes contracted by Rijkswaterstaat. The engine manufacturer Rustenhoven will repair the bridge. The canal was free again for ship traffic on Nov 9. Report with photo and Video: http://www.112groningen.nl/Groningen/nieuws/24880/borgbrug-zaterdagmiddag-weggetakeld-video.html#sthash.AjagWzNW.dpuf

Barge stuck underneath bridge on Ems Canal removed

The "Sympathy" which got stuck under the Borg Bridge on the Ems Canal in Groningen with a cargo of 1400 tons of salt from Delfzijl bound for Sachsenhagen, could be removed from the bridge in the afternoon of Nov 6 at 2 p.m. after the windlass was burnt off, and docked at the Rullen St. in Ruischerbrug at the side of the Ems Canal. A crane of Mammoet which could lift the bridge deck was called. Rijkswaterstaat expected a block of the waterway Lemmer-Delfzijl into the weekend. Inspection of the damage to the bridge lasted all day long.The deck of the Borg Bridge was lifted ten centimeters. Rijkswaterstaat expected the movable part will have to be dismantled. Ship traffic was routed via the Easter lock and the Gaarkeuken lock in Delfzijl. There was contact with German authorites to inform ships as early as possible to minimize an accumulation of ships. Also road traffic on the Borg Street was obstructed and had to be diverted. The skipper and owner Eric van Dam of the "Sympathy" amditted an error, having thought the bridge was already opened when he approached. The control station responded only when the skipper himself reported the collision. The National Police Agency was investigating the case. The "Sympathy" was to proceed to a repair yard once the cargo was unloaded in Harlingen. Dutch report with photos and videos: http://www.schuttevaer.nl/nieuws/actueel/nid21648-matroos-sympathie-heeft-geen-schrammetje-video.html http://www.rtvnoord.nl/gemist/videogemist.asp?v=31757&size=groot http://www.rtvnoord.nl/artikel/artikel.asp?p=140959#

Barge ran into bridge in Groningen

The "Sympathie" allided with the Borg Bridge spanning the Ems Canal in Groningen in dense fog on Nov 5, 2014, at 10.15 p.m. Both ship and bridge were severely damaged. The canal had to be barred for the ship traffic Lemmer – Delfzijl. The span which was pushed 70 centimetres off will probably have to be removed for repairs during the weekend. Traffic was rerouted via Driebond and Garmerwolde. The police launched an investigation and thought the accident happened by mistake of the skipper who had not requested an opening of the span bridge. He was underway from Germany to Harlingen and thought the bridge was open, but had no visibility due to the fog. Dutch reports with photos and video: http://www.112groningen.nl/Groningen/nieuws/24866/groot-schip-ramt-borgbrug-nabij-stad-video.html#sthash.JXI71Rq5.dpuf http://www.rtvnoord.nl/artikel/artikel.asp?p=140933 http://www.lc.nl/friesland/scheepvaart-lemmer-delfzijl-gestremd-17897913.html http://www.rtvnoord.nl/artikel/artikel.asp?p=140939 http://www.dvhn.nl/nieuws/groningen/borgbrug-paar-dagen-dicht-11869483.html