Bulker Hits Bank in Kiel Canal

zoomImage for illustrative purposes only; Image Courtesy: Shipspotting A general cargo vessel hit the bank of the Kiel Canal in the night from November 6 to 7, 2017, according to a statement released by German police department Itzehoe. As informed, the 2,400 dwt RMS Ruhrort ran onto the north part of the river embankment in the canal at around 2:00 A.M. local time. The third officer lost steering control already at the canals 36th kilometer, which caused the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged ship to drift at the port side in the direction of the south canal bank. Immediately after this, the speed was reduced in order to lower the impact of the allision. However, the ship changed the direction and hit the north canal bank. At around 2:20 A.M., the 81.7-meter-long ship managed to free itself with its own power and continued the voyage. At the time of the incident, the RMS Ruhrort was carrying wood from Germanys Port of Rostock to Rochefort. Following the incident, the 1993-built singledecker was brought to Brunsbüttel for inspection. As of November 9, the bulker is in the English Channel, underway using engine, the vessels AIS data shows. World Maritime News Staff; Image Courtesy: Shipspotting/Peter Lenderink