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**Title: Oil Spill Incident Halts Shipping at Kiel Canal's Northern Lock** On May 18, 2026, a significant oil spill incident involving the freighter 'Rix Mariner' forced the closure of the Northern Lock of the Kiel Canal in Kiel for nearly six hours. The leak occurred around 1:40 p.m., leading to the discovery of a slick oily film on the lock chamber's surface shortly after another vessel had docked. With four ships already in the lock, authorities were initially faced with the challenge of pinpointing the source of the pollution. However, through a systematic elimination process, they quickly identified the 'Rix Mariner' as the culprit. The precise nature of the contaminant remains undetermined, but the oil spread across an area of about 60 by 50 meters at the stern of the freighter. Responding to the environmental threat, the Kiel fire brigade and the State Agency for Coastal Protection were deployed to manage the situation. After thorough evaluations, officials concluded that the volume of oil released did not warrant a major intervention, allowing the lock to resume operations later in the evening. By 7 p.m., the remaining vessels were cleared to exit the lock, with three ships continuing their transit westward toward Brunsbüttel. However, the 'Rix Mariner' was directed to the North Harbour, where it docked at Voith Quay at 5:10 p.m. UTC for inspections related to the oil leak's cause. An oil boom was promptly established around the affected area to contain any further spread. In response to the incident, officers from the water police launched an investigation into potential violations related to water pollution. The 'Rix Mariner' remains halted as of May 20, pending repairs and the completion of the investigation, blocking its route from Liepaja to Amsterdam. Notably, no damage was reported to the lock structure itself during this incident, and shipping operations continued through the southern lock as an alternative route during the closures. For visual documentation of the incident, visit: [Photos Here](https://www.forum-schiff.de/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?p=231052#p231052).