CAPELLA

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Damaged tug shifted to New Fishing Harbour

Throughout July 24, emergency personnel from the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) in Cuxhaven and Bremerhaven worked to remove the marine diesel oil that had leaked from the damaged tank of the 'Coastal Legend'. They made significant progress: The oil film had diminished significantly in the afternoon. The ship was able to move to a berth in the New Fishing Harbour on the afternoon with own power. The hull had already been temporarily sealed by divers. For the transit, the emergency personnel briefly opened the oil boom that had surrounded the vessel and allowed it to sail out, assisted by the work vessel 'Steubenhöft' of the port operator Niedersachsen Ports and the tug 'Wulf 7'. The fact that the ship was no longer at the scene of the accident, mad the clean-up work easier, among other things. The Central Command for Maritime Emergencies, which was leading the operation, was confident that the situation would continue to improve. The 'Capella' left CVuxhaven on the foremidday of July 25 en route to Bremen.

Oil pollution in Cuxhaven following collision

On the morning of July 23, 2025, at least six cubic meters of marine diesel oil leaked out as a result of an allision between the 'Capella', which was entering the port en route from Bremerhaven, and the offshore supply ship 'Coastal Legend' (IMO: 9102887), which was berthed at the Lübbert Quay in Cuxhaven's outer port in pos. 53° 52' N 008° 43' E. The tug suffered a breach of 80 centimetres length in a diesel tank at its stern. The Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) and the Cuxhaven Fire Department deployed oil booms to prevent the oil from spreading further. THW's emergency personnel were using skimmers to collect the oil from the water's surface. The Central Command for Maritime Emergencies (CEM)'s Do 228 oil reconnaissance aircraft reconnaissance aircraft has been monitoring the scene from the air. The oil recovery vessel Knechtsand' (IMO 9086916) was deployed to the site. Shipping traffic on the Elbe River was unaffected by the operation. No crew members were injured. The Central Command for Maritime Emergencies (CEM) assumed overall command of the operation. Emergency personnel from the Cuxhaven Water Police, the Cuxhaven Fire Department, and the Federal Agency for Technical Relief are on site. Initial measures have been initiated. Oil was being pumped into a collection tank belonging to the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) and from there onto the bunker ship 'Herta' (MMSI: 211564050). So far, approximately 70 cubic meters of the oil-water mixture have been collected. The remaining fuel from the 'Coastal Legend's damagd tank has also been pumped out by the 'Herta'. Divers were working to seal the leak at the ship's stern. Report with photos: https://www.havariekommando.de/SharedDocs/Aktuelles/DE/2025/20250723_GVU_COASTAL_LEGEND.html?nn=678472

Oil spill response continued

Oil spill response operations in Cuxhaven were continued late on July 23 following the allision of rhe incoming ' Capella' with the 'Coastal Legend', which was berthed at the Lübbert Quay. In the afternoon, emergency responders from the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) arrived from Bremerhaven. They replaced the THW volunteers from Cuxhaven, who had been fighting the spill since the morning. Since the start of the operation, emergency responders have already removed approximately 80 cubic meters of oil-water mixture from the water's surface. The work was ongoing, and there was no end in sight. The oil-water mixture is being pumped into a waiting tanker and a tanker truck for disposal. In the afternoon, the DO 228 sensor aircraft also flew over the accident site once again. Among other things, the emergency command was monitoring whether any of the oil might have entered the Elbe River. This has largely been prevented so far. Around 20 Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) personnel has used skimmers to remove the oil from the water's surface. Report with photos: https://www.radiokoeln.de/artikel/schiffskollision-in-cuxhaven-riss-laesst-oel-austreten-2389814.html