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Barge sank off Holmön while towed by Athena

A barge towed by the 'Athena' sank on July 1, 2025, at Holmön outside Umeå, ten hours after it started taking on water on the night. At 03.29 a.m. the MRCC received an alarm that the former customs boat with three people on board had experienced problems with the barge they were towing. The Maritime Rescue Society went to the scene, as did one of the Swedish Maritime Administration's pilot boats, the 'Pilot 214' SE ((MMSI: 265719460)). The barge was already heavily listing and partially submerged. The water washed into ventilation hatches on the barge, causing it to fill with water. The rescuers decided to start towing the barge towards land with the pilot boat. But then it listed even more, tipped 180 degrees and began to sink. The cargo on the barge consisted of a military vehicle and another vehicle, a large number of telephone poles and two tanks filled with around 3,000 liters of diesel. The Coast Guard proceeded Holmsund to handle the spill at the scene. On the morning of July 2, the Coast Guard recovered one of the tanks. The Coast Guard then investigated the site further with divers and found another diesel tank, which has now also been recovered. A small emission of what appeared to be diesel was initially observed at the site where the barge sank. This was no longer visible, and no new emissions have been observed. The small emission that was previously observed has likely evaporated. The risk of an environmental impact was now assessed to be low by the Umeå Municipality. The Swedish Coast Guard has been at the scene of the accident and examined the vessel with divers. The authority has initiated a preliminary investigation into crimes related to the release of diesel into the sea, deficiencies in the equipment and the seaworthiness of the barge. Reports with photos: https://www.expressen.se/nyheter/sverige/pram-har-sjunkit-utanfor-umea/ https://www.pt.se/nyheter/holmon/artikel/diesel-har-lackt-ut-i-havet-luktar-kraftigt/lzz634ql https://www.norran.se/nyheter/holmon/artikel/efter-pramolyckan-dieseltankarna-har-bargats/jp2d1q6r https://www.osterbottenstidning.fi/Artikel/Visa/895281 https://www.sjofartstidningen.se/pram-sjonk-stor-tank-med-diesel-bargad/