TUI Sonata hits sandbank

[notamermaid]

The TUI Sonata grounded on a sandbank on the Rhine last night. It happened near the town of Lorch, which is near Rüdesheim. For - as of now - unknown reasons the ship left the navigation channel and got stuck on a sandbank at the river island. Nobody was hurt and it has been reported that no water has entered the ship.

 

As of 10am German time this morning the ship is being evacuated with the aid of a local ferry as the ship is in the middle of the river. Everyone could stay on board overnight.

 

The TUI Sonata is a modern ship carrying up to 200 passengers and has the same dimensions as Viking ships. The design of the hull is the more traditional one and does not resemble the Viking longship design. I do not know the draft of the ship.

 

The river is very low at the moment with many sandbanks exposed. There must have been a lot of traffic on that stretch of river last night as the fireworks display "Rhine in Flames" took place around Rüdesheim last night. Part of the river was actually closed due to the event taking place.

 

Authorities are hoping to free the TUI Sonata during the evening which they say will not be easy.

 

Information extracted from news report by Radio Hesse online.

 

notamermaid

[Canal archive]

Hi notamermaid have just checked on marine traffic and it looks like her draught is 1.5 meters, so not the deepest but diffinatly not the shallowest.

[notamermaid]

Thank you for looking, Canal archive.

 

Thankfully, this was a minor accident due to a navigation mistake. As mentioned before the river was very busy, especially with cruise ships getting in line for the fireworks display.

 

According to a local news report the TUI Sonata has had only minor scratches at the front of the hull.

 

I noticed she is now on its way to Cologne. Unfortunately the passengers missed the fireworks display.

 

notamermaid