KEPEJORA

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Removal of 1400 tons scrap metal underway

After the sinking of the 'Kepejora' on the morning of July 25 on the banks of the Sambre in Auvelais, in the municipality of Sambreville, work was on to remove the 1,400 tons of scrap in the cargo holds by the scrap metal dealers of Comet in an attempt to quickly reopen the waterway. Since the sinking, river traffic has been completely suspended. Several barges were at a standstill, forced to wait for the operations to be completed. Any delays will have to be covered by the vessel's insurance. During the night, two cranes were workionng to extract the cargo. Nearly 800 tons of scrap metal have already been removed in around 50 trucks, while almost as much remained to be removed. The grapples go into the water, fishing, with long crane arms to find the scrap metal wherever it is, especially since the barge has sunk even further. Only once the scrap metal has been removed, the barge can be raised, which was expected to take place on July 29 or 30. The authorities will then have to establish the exact circumstances of the sinking. The accident may have occurred during the loading operations at the Comet Sambre dockside facility in Châtelet. An impact was remarked during loading. Another concern esd s hydrocarbon pollution. Thefuel tank has suffered a hole. Firefighters were lowered directly onto the water by a crane to install a floating boom. The objective was to prevent the fuel from spreading into the Sambre. The master and his crew, originally from Flanders, have returned home for the time being. Reports with photo and video: https://www.rtbf.be/article/une-peniche-chargee-de-ferraille-coule-a-auvelais-1400-tonnes-a-extraire-la-sambre-bloquee-11580804 https://www.sudinfo.be/id1021490/article/2025-07-26/naufrage-dune-peniche-auvelais-les-secours-tentent-de-colmater-une-fuite-de https://www.gva.be/binnenland/binnenvaartschip-kepejora-zinkt-in-de-samber-reddingsoperatie-mislukt-ondanks-massale-inzet/80056130.html

Barge sank near Auvelis lock

On the afternoon of July 25, 2025, the ' Kepejora', carrying 1,400 tons of scrap metal, sank near the Auvelais lock. The barge had departed from Comet in Châtelet and bound for Ghent, was damaged during or shortly after loading. The crew only noticed later that the barge was taking on water. A large-scale rescue operation involving pumps, cranes, and dozens of trucks commenced with trucks waiting in queues at the quay to take the cargo. The operation was complicated by the difficult-to-access quay and the volume of the cargo. A total of 78 trucks would have been needed to unload everything.The firefighters of the Val de Sambre area, who started operating the pumps at 3 p.m., had to call the Crisnée Civil Protection Department. All efforts could not prevent the barge from sinking at a water depth of around 4,5m metres at around 6:05 p.m. The wheelhouse and parts of the starboard side remained above water, but the cargo holds were completely flooded and submerged at port side. An oil boom was laid out around the wreck by the fire brigade as a precaution. The SPW's Inspector General of Waterways has been dispatched to the scene. Reports with photo and video: https://www.gva.be/binnenland/binnenvaartschip-kepejora-zinkt-in-de-samber-reddingsoperatie-mislukt-ondanks-massale-inzet/80056130.html https://www.lavenir.net/regions/sambre-meuse/2025/07/25/accident-fluvial-a-auvelais-naufrage-dune-peniche-chargee-de-1400-tonnes-de-ferraille-video-CRU2FNSQHVCAFEAJXCXUQPFXPE/