Lorch - Fire on cargo ship in the Rhine: damage still unclear
A fire in the engine room of a cargo ship on the Rhine near Lorch triggered a major firefighting operation on Thursday afternoon. According to the police, the 135-metre-long ship was loaded with 80 empty containers and was on its way from Rotterdam to Frankfurt. The four crew members on board were reportedly uninjured.
The ship's crew were initially able to anchor the ship and extinguish the fire themselves using the CO2 extinguishing system. For further firefighting and to ensure that toxic fumes were removed, firefighters from several fire departments came to the scene and also boarded the ship. A boat from the technical relief organization was also on site.
The stricken ship was finally coupled with another cargo ship and towed to the emergency berth in Bingen by a tugboat. It is not allowed to sail any further for the time being. The total damage is not yet foreseeable, as the site of the fire cannot yet be entered, it was said.
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- Authorities in Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate are closely monitoring the situation, given the potential environmental impact of the fire on the Rhine.
- The fire department operations have been supported by specialized machinery from various fire departments, including those in Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate.
- The police are investigating the cause of the fire, with initial suspicions pointing towards a technical failure in the machine room of the cargo ship.
- The salvage operation involves several shipping companies, including those based in Frankfurt and Rotterdam, who are providing assistance in towing the damaged ship to a safe harbor.
- The fire has disrupted the shipping lane on the Rhine, causing delays for other cargo ships, particularly those heading towards Frankfurt or Rotterdam.
- The fire department operation has attracted public attention, with many residents of Lorch and other nearby towns in the Rhineland-Palatinate watching the events unfold.
Source: www.stern.de
