13.05.2020

Artikel Nummer: 31974

German inland waterway to North Sea blocked

An inland barge collided with a bridge over the Dortmund-Ems canal in Emsland, Germany, causing the bridge to collapse.

The Kunkenmühler bridge was built in 1954 and was 60 m long. Ship traffic was suspended on this stretch of the 265 km long canal after the incident.

According to the relevant authorities, the empty cargo ship hailing from Moers may have been carrying too little ballast water, so that its prow was too high above the water. The canal connects the inland port of Duisburg with the North Sea at the sea port in Emden, close to the Dutch border. (mw)