Salvage of capsized Rhine tanker may take weeks
Shipping on the river Rhine in central Germany remains partially blocked to shipping for the twelfth day by a capsized tanker loaded with sulphuric acid and salvage work could last another two to three weeks, the German inland navigation authority said on Monday, Reuters reports .
The river remains closed for northbound sailings but southbound sailings are being undertaken, a spokesman for the authority said. It was not possible to say when northbound sailings could resume, he said.
No significant cargo volumes have escaped, he said. Two additional pontoons had arrived to help stabilize the vessel.
Two missing crew members have still not yet been found.
The tanker, named Waldhof, is owned by unlisted German transport group Lehnkering.
The ship was carrying acid for German chemicals company BASF (BASFn.DE) from its works in Ludwigshafen in Germany to the Belgian port of Antwerp.
The Rhine is an important shipping route for commodities including grain, minerals, coal and oil products including heating oil. It is also a major route for Switzerland's commodity imports.
The association of German inland shipping companies BDD said on Monday vessel operators were facing major losses because of the incident.
"The average revenue loss of a Rhine ship is up to 4,000 euros ($5,423) per ship per day depending on vessel type and size," said BDB president Gunther Jaegers. "The revenue losses are already running into millions."
He stressed the association had no criticism of the authorities' handling of the incident.
The river remains closed for northbound sailings but southbound sailings are being undertaken, a spokesman for the authority said. It was not possible to say when northbound sailings could resume, he said.
No significant cargo volumes have escaped, he said. Two additional pontoons had arrived to help stabilize the vessel.
Two missing crew members have still not yet been found.
The tanker, named Waldhof, is owned by unlisted German transport group Lehnkering.
The ship was carrying acid for German chemicals company BASF (BASFn.DE) from its works in Ludwigshafen in Germany to the Belgian port of Antwerp.
The Rhine is an important shipping route for commodities including grain, minerals, coal and oil products including heating oil. It is also a major route for Switzerland's commodity imports.
The association of German inland shipping companies BDD said on Monday vessel operators were facing major losses because of the incident.
"The average revenue loss of a Rhine ship is up to 4,000 euros ($5,423) per ship per day depending on vessel type and size," said BDB president Gunther Jaegers. "The revenue losses are already running into millions."
He stressed the association had no criticism of the authorities' handling of the incident.