Atlantic-Mate

While the "Atlantic Mate" finally berthed at the Delwaidedock Bulkterminal in Antwerp on Jan 10 around 6 a.m., the suspension of traffic in the large South lock in Brunsbüttel imposed after the allision was lifted by the waterway and shipping office (WSA), but the operating times of the South chamber must be kept to a minimum in the coming days. The chamber would be used only at low tide. At high water, too much water penetrated through the hole which was torn by the bulbous bow. A diver on Jan 8 found that several metal sheets were pushed in and water flowed through a crack. Workers should now seal the openings in the gate with so-called big bags until the end of next week. Only in the case of a more stable weather situation with less wind and lower water levels the gate may be dry-laid and finally repaired. The cause of the allision on Jan 6 was thought to have been a technical defect on the ship. Photos: http://www.forum-schiff.de/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=23#p133061

In the morning of Jan 7, 2017, the "Atlantic Mate", while en route from Klaipeda to Antwerp, suffered engine failure when entering the new Southern lock of the Kiel Canal in Brunsbüttel. The ship drifted perpendicular and dropped anchor within the lock. Nethertheless it ran into the gate on the Elbe side which was no longer operable. Until divers have repaired the damage, the lock had to be barred for ship traffic probably until Jan 9. The tanker was towed out of the lock again by two tugs and moored at the Navy pilings North in the inner port of Brunsbüttel around 1 p.m.

Report with photos: http://log.wrecks.net/?p=2575