COASTAL LEGEND

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About 240 cubic metres oil-water mixture removed

The Central Command for Maritime Emergencies in Cuxhaven has terminated its overall operational control of the oil spill following the collision of the 'Coastal Legend' and the 'Capella' in Cuxhaven's outer harbour and handed over the further proceedings to the City of Cuxhaven as the Lower Water Authority on July 25 at 9 a.m. Personnel from the Federal Agency for Technical Relief resumed operations on site on the morning. Small amounts of oil remained in the water. The oil booms initially remained in the port basin. Since the oil collection began, approximately 240 cubic metres of the oil-water mixture have been removed. Water samples were taken on July 28. The exact amount of marine diesel leaked from the offshore supply vessel remained unclear, but it was likely between six and 12 cubic metres. Regarding the cause of the allision, initial investigations indicated that the captain of the 'Capella' had misjudged the circumstances. According to police, there was initially no indication of a technical fault. The 'Coastal Legend' was berthed at Empting Drydock on July 27 and remained stationary as of July 29.

Damaged tug shifted to New Fishing Harbour

Throughout July 24, emergency personnel from the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) in Cuxhaven and Bremerhaven worked to remove the marine diesel oil that had leaked from the damaged tank of the 'Coastal Legend'. They made significant progress: The oil film had diminished significantly in the afternoon. The ship was able to move to a berth in the New Fishing Harbour on the afternoon with own power. The hull had already been temporarily sealed by divers. For the transit, the emergency personnel briefly opened the oil boom that had surrounded the vessel and allowed it to sail out, assisted by the work vessel 'Steubenhöft' of the port operator Niedersachsen Ports and the tug 'Wulf 7'. The fact that the ship was no longer at the scene of the accident, mad the clean-up work easier, among other things. The Central Command for Maritime Emergencies, which was leading the operation, was confident that the situation would continue to improve. The 'Capella' left CVuxhaven on the foremidday of July 25 en route to Bremen.

Oil pollution in Cuxhaven following collision

On the morning of July 23, 2025, at least six cubic meters of marine diesel oil leaked out as a result of an allision between the tanker 'Capella' (IMO: 9280110), which was entering the port en route from Bremerhaven, and the 'Coastal Legend', which was berthed at the Lübbert Quay in Cuxhaven's outer port in pos. 53° 52' N 008° 43' E, and suffered a breach of 80 entimetres length in a diesel tank at the stern. The Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) and the Cuxhaven Fire Department deployed oil booms to prevent the oil from spreading further. THW's emergency personnel were using skimmers to collect the oil from the water's surface. The Central Command for Maritime Emergencie's (CEM)'s Do 228 oil reconnaissance aircraft reconnaissance aircraft has monitored the scene from the air. The oil recovery vessel 'Knechtsand' (IMO 9086916) was deployed to the site site. Shipping traffic on the Elbe River was unaffected by the operation. No crew members were injured. The Central Command for Maritime Emergencies (CEM) assumed overall command of the operation. Emergency personnel from the Cuxhaven Water Police, the Cuxhaven Fire Department, and the Federal Agency for Technical Relief are on site. Initial measures have been initiated. Oil was being pumped into a collection tank belonging to the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) and from there onto the bunker ship 'Herta' (MMSI: 211564050). So far, approximately 70 cubic meters of the oil-water mixture have been collected. The remaining fuel from the 'Coastal Legend's damagd tank has also been pumped out by the 'Herta'. Divers were working to seal the leak at the tug's stern. Report with photos: https://www.havariekommando.de/SharedDocs/Aktuelles/DE/2025/20250723_GVU_COASTAL_LEGEND.html?nn=678472