OPAL

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Barge capsized THW boat on Mittelland Canal

In the afternoon of July 30, 2017, the "Opal" 1369 ts (EU-No.: 04005710), was in collision with a boat of the Technical Support Work THW on the Mittelland. Canal. Two THW members and eight passengers, who participated in a boat trip during the port festival in Bad Essen, jumped into the water before the crash at 3.15 p.m. on the south bank of the canal between Harpenfeld and Wehrendorf. Before, the THW boat had an engine failure because of fuel shortage. At the same time, the "Opal", which had sailed from Bremen on July 27 at 6.45 p.m., was approaching from Bad Essen sailing westbound towards Leckermühle. Off the port of Wehrendorf it veered towards the southern shore in a bend and steered towards the THW boat. Just in time, all ten people jumped from the THW boat into the water and could save themselves to shore. A few moments later the freighter slammed into the boat, which then capsized. Immediately, rescue forces were alerted and attended with two boats of the DLRG Obere Hunte. The Red Cross provided medical service. The people were taken care of immediately and wrapped in blankets. One person was slightly injured and taken to the hospital, all others were not harmed. The work boat "Oesper" of the canal authority proceeded from Bad Essen and found the THW boat drifting bottom up in the fairway. The "Opal" stopped after the collision and managed to push the THW boat towards the shore. The crew dropped off blankets and ropes. It then continued the voyage before the police managed to stop the ship in Kalkriese. The master of the ship was interrogated. The barge berthed in Fallersleben on Aug 2 at 8.15 p.m. Meanwhile the helpers of the DLRG righted the capsized THW boat. The water was removed with a submersible pump. Finally, a DLRG boat towed the damaged boat towards Bad Essen. German reports with photos: https://www.noz.de/lokales/bad-essen/artikel/931597/fuehrer-des-bad-essener-thw-boots-zeigte-gute-nerven https://www.noz.de/lokales/bad-essen/artikel/930454/thw-boot-stoesst-mit-frachter-in-bad-essen-zusammen#gallery&0&1&930454