MERSEY

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Woman injured in collision in Brusbüttel

On May 24, 2025, at approximately 6 p.m., the German sailing yacht "Elbe Express" (MMSI: 211723160) collided with the "Mersey" (IMO: 9170420) while entering the old south lock of the Kiel Canal in Brunsbüttel. The sailing vessel was caught in the tanker's propeller current and rocked. It then caught on the tire fenders at the tanker's hull, breaking the mast halfway up. The falling debris severely injured the 55-year-old skipper of the yacht. The backstay stretched across her chest, pinning her between the railing and the radar mount. She lost consciousness. The crew was quickly able to free her and make an emergency call by cell phone. The skipper had also regained consciousness by then. Firefighters with turntable ladders and paramedics worked for an extended period to rescue her. She was then taken to a Hamburg hospital by rescue helicopter. The on-site examination revealed a broken fifth rib. The woman was supposed to be released quickly. However, because she also complained of neck pain, she was kept in the hospital for observation. The other crew members were unharmed. The tanker sustained scratches on the roof of the bridge and the railing, but was able to continue its journey from Kiel to Hamburg after the investigations were finished three hours later, during which the lock chamber remained barred for shipping. The 'Elbe Express' moved under its own power to the Brunsbüttel marina. Subsequently, the Cuxhaven Water Police prohibited further sailing. It was now awaiting a new rig. The yacht was a Varianta 37, a training boat from the Eichler Yacht School, which uses it for training cruises on the Elbe. It was on its way out of the canal into the Elbe with the instructor and a customer crew. The training trips had to be suspended until further notice. Report with photos: https://www.yacht.de/special/seenot/kollision-in-brunsbuettel-mastbruch-in-schleuse-skipperin-verletzt/

Tanker grounded off Inverness

The "Mersey Fisher" ran aground in the early hours of Mar 23, 2015, at Carnac Point, close to the Kessock Bridge. while the tanker which was coming from Grangemouth was entering Inverness Harbour. Coastguard teams were called out to the scene of the accident at 1.30 a.m., and the vessel was re-floated shortly afterwards. Report with photo: https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/news/highlands/528819/oil-tanker-runs-aground-at-inverness-harbour/

Medevac off Kessock

In the morning of May 15, 2014, around 8.30 a.m. the volunteer crew of Kessock lifeboat launched to go to the assistance of the "Mersey Fisher" approximately five miles to the north east of the Kessock Bridge. The captain of the vessel, 57, had fallen ill. The Kessock lifeboat "Robert and Isobel Mowat" was on scene by 8.45. Once on scene the lifeboat crew assessed and monitored the casualty’s condition and administered oxygen. It was decided that the captain was not in a fit state to make his way down the three metre rope ladder to the lifeboat, the lifeboat crew called for the assistance of RAF rescue helicopter 137 from Lossiemouth. The captain had a number of symptoms and his condition was not showing any signs of improving so he was winched aboard the helicopter on a stretcher and taken to Raigmore Hospital for further treatment. Kessock lifeboat volunteer helmsman Stan MacRae said ‘We were pleased to be able to help today. The RNLI give us very good training in casualty care (first aid) and we were able to closely monitor the casualty’s condition, in this case administering oxygen as necessary.’