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Kalikai in the port of Hamburg (2008): Fire brigade operation after an accident

Photo: Frank Brexel / IMAGO

A barge sank in the Wilhelmsburg district of Hamburg early this morning. The fire department said the 80-meter-long ship was moored at the quay in Blumensandhafen when the accident occurred for reasons that were initially unclear.  

At the time of the accident, the ship was carrying 3,500 liters of diesel and 1,400 tons of potassium chloride, a salt. The fire brigade is securing the scene of the accident, it was said. Among other things, preparations were underway to place oil barriers around the inland waterway vessel as a precautionary measure. The Hamburg fire department is on site with 40 emergency services.

According to the fire department, the skipper remained uninjured. However, he is being cared for by the emergency services. The “Hamburger Abendblatt” reports that he suffered a shock.

bbr/dpa