Tugboat Kuguar sunk in Świnoujście - video

Both local and national media are reporting on the sinking of the tug Kuguar, which occurred late yesterday evening. Preliminary information indicates that the crew were under the influence of alcohol. Fortunately, no one was hurt as a result of the whole incident. The vessel, which went to the bottom, belonged to the Shipping Services Company.

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According to information provided by the media from the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, on 16 February at about 10.40 pm the police received a report of a collision between two vessels on the port channel in Świnoujście. The description of the incident indicates that at the level of the harbour master’s office, about 50 metres from the wharf, a tugboat hit another vessel and as a result of the collision sank on its own.

As a result of the incident, 5 people on board the tugboat found themselves in the water. They were picked up by Pilot 63 and returned to shore where ambulances were waiting for them. According to police findings, 4 crew members were found to have trace amounts of alcohol in their blood. The 5th person who was not part of the crew was sober.

The other vessel involved in the collision was the 96-metre river/sea vessel Transforza, which was on its way to Szczecin. Following the collision, the vessel was moored back at the quay for the crew to assess the damage and check the vessel’s fitness to continue.

Despite the collision and sinking of the tugboat, navigation of the main channel in Świnoujście harbour is proceeding unhindered. The sunken tug is now close to the quay with the upper part of its mast protruding above the water surface to indicate the danger.

As far as the environmental risk is concerned, available information indicates that the tug’s tanks could have contained up to 21m³ of fuel and 0.5m³ of lubricating oil. Fortunately, the SAR Czeslaw II vessel was on the scene of the accident and is equipped to place barriers to contain the spill and remove any debris that appears on the water surface.

The whole incident is currently being investigated by staff at the Maritime Office in Szczecin.

Source: portalmorski.pl