A German inland container vessel, the Monika Deymann, collided with the Willemsbrug bridge in Rotterdam Port on the first of March.
The container vessel became stuck under the bridge for several hours, leading to efforts to free it and assess the damage. Emergency services quickly secured the area, with no reported injuries. However, at least two containers fell into the water, prompting immediate removal efforts to prevent further risks.
The incident elicited reports of a “loud bang” and “scraping metal” from residents nearby. The Rotterdam-Rijnmond Safety Region responded promptly, with divers locating the two containers drifting in the river current.
Het vastgelopen schip komt nu langzaam los. Het water in de rivier (eb) is aan t zakken. Hij vaart nu ook langzaam naar voren. Inspectie zegt tot nu toe alleen verfschade en schade aan sierverlichting. @vincentkar @RTV_Rijnmond pic.twitter.com/GPOt4StgvC
— Maikel Coomans (@maikelcoomans85) March 1, 2024
Closure of the bridge and waterway ensued, but after approximately two hours, receding water allowed the vessel to become dislodged. Subsequent bridge inspections revealed mostly superficial damage, primarily scraped paintwork.
Despite the dramatic collision, the focus shifted to assessing the structural integrity of the Willemsbrug, particularly its critical gas and electricity pipes. Thankfully, the inspection determined minimal damage, and the bridge was deemed safe to reopen by midday, restoring normalcy to the area.
Regrettably, this marks another occurrence related to the specific bridge in Rotterdam. Prior to this incident, two separate incidents occurred in 2022 and 2020, where the bridge was struck, resulting in containers being dislodged from the vessel on both occasions.
