German Maritime has published the interim investigation report for Allision between the Warburg Bridge and Vessel Francisca.
On 18 January 2025, the multi-purpose vessel FRANCISCA was inward-bound on the River Trave towards Lübeck. The FRANCISCA was scheduled to make fast at the ‘Lagerhaus 2’ berth, which is located just behind the Eric Warburg Bridge. The Eric Warburg Bridge is a bascule bridge with a clearance height of 6 m when closed. According to the Ostsee-Handbuch [Baltic Sea sailing directions]6, vessels, such as the FRANCISCA with a height of 18.5 m above the waterline, must request the opening operation from the traffic authority at least two hours in advance. The pilot boarded the vessel near the Trave approach buoy at 1640. A few minutes later, the pilot station’s watch supervisor reported to the bascule bridge that the FRANCISCA was approaching, so that it would open about two hours later. The pilot station confirmed to the pilot on VHF channel 14 (Lübeck Pilot) that the report had been sent. The duty bridge keeper arrived at the bascule bridge at about 1740, started up the necessary systems there, detected no fault messages, and waited at the VHF radio for the vessel’s request to open the bridge.
At about 1847, the FRANCISCA struck the bridge approach structure’s north-eastern steel dolphin at an estimated speed of one knot. The FRANCISCA’s bow remained caught in that position and she could not sail clear unassisted.
The shell plating ruptured in the fore section, on the port side, above the waterline, approximately at deck level, over a length of about 80 cm. One steel dolphin on the northern approach structure of the Eric Warburg Bridge was deformed. The lateral fairway lighting that was mounted on top of it (right-hand side) was damaged and failed as a result.
The FRANCISCA was refloated with tug assistance and shifted to the berth beyond the bridge, as specified in the voyage plan. There were no injuries or water pollution. The shipping route in the area of the Eric Warburg Bridge could be used again without restrictions.