The chemical tanker that has run aground in the Elbe estuary near Cuxhaven is free again. As planned, the experts of the Havariekommandos had waited for the midday flood, then dragged several tugs the traveling under the flag of Panama ship "Oriental Nadeshiko" back into the water.
Four tugs secured the tanker, while two prepared the salvage attempt. The situation of the tanker was controlled by a direction ship. According to the Havariekommandos, no damage has been reported to date on the ship carrying 9000 tonnes of dangerous goods. The crew is therefore well.
The 124-meter-long ship has cargo of dangerous goods class 3 on board, said a spokeswoman for the accident command. This class of dangerous goods included liquid flammable substances. Thus, inter alia, 7500 tons of ethylene dichloride are loaded, which is used among other things as so-called anti-knock agent for fuels. Also used as hydraulic and solvent propylene glycol should have been loaded.
According to the spokeswoman, during a routine flight of an oil surveillance aircraft, no emission of pollutants was detected.
The tanker had run aground about ten kilometers east of Cuxhaven in the Elbe estuary; There, the fairway for navigation runs right next to the Medemsand, which dries when the water level is low. The cause of the accident is still unclear. The tanker is now to be brought to Cuxhaven, informed at lunch the Havariekommando.