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Gründling called to sinking site of cable ferry

On Apr 19, 2016, the "Gründling" was dispatched to the sinking site of the Donau ferry at Mariaposching which suddenly had foundered at 9.45 a.m. amid the fairway of the Danube. The cable ferry was still attached underwater to the tension cables. After the sinking the police and a rescue helicopter were sent to the accident site, a total of around 140 people, also including fire brigade, water rescue and emergency services. The three people who were on the ferry, saved themselves swimming to the shore of the river which had a temperature of 12.5 degrees C. There were two passengers and the skipper on board. All were taken to hospital with hypothermia. A vehicle and a tractor sank with the ferry. While the tractor was still on board, the so-called sprinter was washed away by the flow. Only the fork of the tractor and the mast of the ferry stuck out of the water. The 89-year-old ferry did not have an engine, but was pulled by a rope across the river. The towers, which held the ferry, were additionally secured after the sinking due to the fear the rope could break and endanger people. Ship traffic on the Danube has been banned from the lock in Straubing to Deggendorf port. The "Gründling" was was converted immediately for crane operation and ordered for the salvage of sunken car to sinking site upriver. The ferry was resting on a water depth of about 2,5 meters, it still the tractor with a trailer. The car had drifted around 200 meters on the river bottom. A trailer should be fixed on the ferry deck and then disconnected from the tractor. A diving teamhad to stop its work because of the strong current. Because the diver's safety was at risk, the salvage work was initially canceled. Because of the current and the high water level, the wreck should now be recovered later in the week. In addition, another salvage ship from Passau area was summoned to the accident site. German reports with photos: http://www.idowa.de/gallery.bootsunglueck-donaufaehre-bei-mariaposching-gesunken.f15e0604-f57c-4b16-a3a8-8941fffd851f.html/id/d992e3af-00b1-4841-b984-af883c452687 http://www.donaukurier.de/nachrichten/panorama/Deutschland-Bayern-Ungluecke-Verkehr-Schifffahrt-Donaufaehre-mit-drei-Menschen-an-Bord-bei-Mariaposching-in-Bayern-gesunken;art154670,3207787 http://www.tvaktuell.com/gesunkene-faehre-bergung-ende-der-woche-170232/ http://www.tvaktuell.com/donaufaehre-mit-transporter-und-traktor-gesunken-drei-verletzte-170081/ http://www.idowa.de/inhalt.bootsunglueck-donaufaehre-bei-mariaposching-gesunken.f15e0604-f57c-4b16-a3a8-8941fffd851f.html http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/mariaposching-donau-faehre-gesunken-a-1087991.html