Shipping

Containerriese is in the Elbsand fixed

Eleven meters of depth were too much: Outside of the fairway in the river Elbe near Hamburg is one of the largest freighters in the world, got stuck. Now help only Spülbagger and the next high tide.

Failure of the steering gear: At ton of 116 ended the ride in the mud

First attempt with six tugs: failed. Second attempt, this time in the Mittagshochwasser, with seven tractors of 90 tons tractive force : again, nothing. The “CSCL Indian Ocean” is in the Elbsand, and the small Schleppschiffe – including those with so energetic names like “Zp Boxer” – can’t change anything. Like toy boats to take you next to the 400-metre-long container ship, under the flag of Hong Kong continues.

It happened on Wednesday night against 22.10 clock: failure of the steering gear. So was the giant no longer in the fairway to keep. At this point, with Stade, that means for a ship with more than eleven metres depth to the end of the ride – the “Indian Ocean” ran aground.

Helpless Pose

On the water, they approached the ships of the water police on Board the evidence secured. The Central command for Maritime emergencies in Cuxhaven sent his Mehrzweckschiff “Neuwerk” at the scene of the accident. And on the dike came the curious onlookers together, to the imposing cargo ship, the nearly 20,000 containers can grasp, the helpless Pose to see.

Like toy: Small tug at the “CSCL Indian Ocean”, which is longer than an ICE train

No blame on the failed drive to have the air traffic controllers. The says at least their Association, the Lotsenbrüderschaft, and praises the prudent behavior of the men on Board. They had the captain after the failure of the rowing machine get the ship at ton 116 to the Northern edge of the fairway to bring greater damage to prevent. Cheaper side effect: The rest of the traffic is hardly obstructed.

Now to wait for the pros on the power of nature: the next flood. Meanwhile, a Spülbagger the silt around the vessel, remove. Further steps are decided by the Central command for Maritime emergencies.

Timetable hardly hold

The latest technology, with the “Indian Ocean” is only in the last year, water was left, helps the ship nothing more. On Monday morning, had the freighter in the British port of Felixstowe is stored. After his stop in Hamburg, he should be back on Saturday in the direction of Rotterdam expire. This timetable is now probably obsolete. After all: that There is no danger for the environment, report to the authorities – and it is not to be feared, that the Schiffsriese is going down.

jj/kle (dpa, afp, welt.de, ndr)