On Friday, a cargo ship crashed on the Main in Würzburg and diverted. As reported by the Lower Franconian police headquarters, it had become wedged and had to be secured with technical equipment. No one was injured in the accident. As the first rescue attempts had failed, according to the police, the Main will remain closed to navigation until further notice.
According to the police, driving errors led to the accident
According to the police, the cargo ship which had loaded the asphalt granulate was traveling downstream on the Main at around 16:00. At the helm was a 35-year-old skipper. Shortly after the Ludwigsbrücke, there was a near collision with an oncoming cargo ship. According to the police, the cargo ship therefore crossed the flow direction shortly before the lock under Marienberg Fortress due to another steering error, rammed the dividing weir of the lock with the forecastle, wedged itself and threatened the floating “Mainkuh” and moored in the main restaurant and a toy library are located next to each other.
Emergency services evacuate the restaurant ship and try to tow the free freighter
The people who were in the floating restaurant at the time were evacuated by the police as a precaution. The old main bridge was also briefly closed to pedestrians. Several attempts to tow the cargo ship with a tug were unsuccessful. The vessel was then secured with technical equipment by the emergency services of the fire brigade and the THW. The freighter must now remain in this position until further notice. The shipment will remain closed until the damaged vessel is released. The Würzburg water police are now investigating the 35-year-old who caused the accident.
Around 150 emergency services from the police, fire brigade, THW, rescue service, medical service, DLRG and waterways and maritime office were involved in the operation, which lasted well into the night.
Rescue attempt on Christmas Day
As announced on Saturday by the Main Waterways and Shipping Office, the cargo vessel will be towed free of charge on Sunday. A heavy-duty tractor is currently on its way to the scene of the accident. Martina Michel of the Waterways and Shipping Office Main – a suburb of Marktbreit – told Bayerischer Rundfunk that the shipping ban will apply until further notice.
