Folgen der Trockenheit: Frachtschiff mit Mercedes-Sprintern steckt im Hafen fest

A freight ship carrying Mercedes Sprinters has become stuck in the Düsseldorf port due to severe drought conditions. The water police reported on Tuesday that the ship has been unable to leave a port basin since Monday, as the current water level was too low. A tugboat could not approach the ship under the present conditions and thus could not free it.

Port traffic on the Rhine or in the port was not affected, as the ship only blocked one port basin. A police spokesperson explained that attempting to do so would risk damaging the ship. The only option left is to wait for rising water levels. The 135-meter, 12-meter wide ship, flagged under the Netherlands, is carrying 135-meter-long containers, which have been stuck in the port basin since Monday.

The captain's maneuvering proved ineffective. A spokesperson for the Neuss-Düsseldorf ports said the captain likely underestimated the weight of the cargo. Due to the drought and lack of precipitation, the Rhine and other rivers carry much less water than usual, resulting in only a few freight ships sailing on the Rhine, which also carry little cargo.

Moreover, ferries have halted operations. The limited ship traffic on the Rhine affects the industry, making the supply of raw materials and spare parts more expensive. Some Sprinters are expected to be unloaded. The ship was loaded with Mercedes-Benz Vans from the Düsseldorf Sprinter plant for delivery to Rotterdam, according to a Mercedes spokesperson.

The transported vehicles were not damaged. Mercedes-Benz Vans vehicle deliveries at the Düsseldorf location are not affected by the current reduced transport concepts, meaning alternative deliveries via trains and trucks are available. The automotive logistics company Mosolf, which chartered the ship, announced that the ship was moving with reduced cargo load.

"Currently, efforts are being made to get the ship unstuck on its own using its stern thrusters and bring it back into the port," a Mosolf spokesperson said. There are holes at the rear of the ship through which water is seeping out, while elsewhere it is being expelled, allowing the ship to sway slightly. The plan is for the ship to come unstuck through this movement from the sandbank it is anchored on, and then return to the port basin to unload some Sprinters and reduce the weight.

Mosolf stated that they will continue monitoring water levels and may attempt to enter the Rhine again at the end of the week.