No. 5 Elbe Passenger Update: Eight injured had to be treated by a doctor, including two seriously injured adults and two slightly injured children. A seriously injured man flew in a rescue helicopter to a hospital in Altona, the two children were in ambulance to Helios Hospital Mariahilf in Hamburg- Harburg. For the remaining five injured, the ambulance went to the Stader Elbe Klinikum.
Salvage Update: No.5 Pilot Schooner Elbe
- Fire brigade, the German Lifesaving Society, and the Technical Relief Agency are on site.
Sunday June 9th
Preparations for salvage begins. Divers of the Hamburg-based company Taucher Knoth GmbH & Co. KG were busy looking at the damage to the pilot’s hull. Insurance representatives also looked at the wreckage. Representatives of the owner had already made a first impression of the damage on Saturday evening.
By Sunday evening, it became apparent that the oil barriers and the geotextile fleece could not completely absorb the escaping fuels due to the pronounced waves in the swing mouth. During the night, the fire brigade and the German life-saving company had once again tightened the oil barriers.
Monday June 10th
The technical relief organization had already pumped out more than 1000 liters of fuel on Monday. Apparently, there are still larger quantities of supplies on board the damaged ship.
The Cuxhaven forces from the Technical Relief Agency arrived on Monday morning with truck, boat and all sorts of equipment. They launched their workboats into the water and brought out new fleece. With a special device they evacuated the lubricating film within the oil barrier from the water. The leak could be located in the area of ventilation. In the meantime, the fire brigade and the German Lifesaving Society control the swingarm and the city harbor for any water pollution – so far without findings that would require further intervention.
In the afternoon, a swim is expected. Salvage experts want to reduce the rigging and secure the wreckage. In the collision with the container ship “Astro Sprinter”, among other things, the masts of the pilot saver are broken. When the “Elbe no. 5 “is lifted ashore is still unclear. The owner must submit a salvage concept to the Waterways and Shipping Authority. Several days of salvage work is expected at the earliest in the course of the coming week.
Tuesday June 11th
Fire brigade and DLRG moved again on Tuesday afternoon with a large contingent. With the help of several boats and a crane, they retrieve the disposable oil barriers installed at the weekend and relocate them. The swingarm is closed until further notice in the area of the estuary for the shipping traffic. The anti-oil unit of the Technical Relief Agency in Cuxhaven will also be deployed once more. The Cuxhavener can filter the lubricants out of the water with a special device.
Resources:
DLRG
Tageblatt
NDR