HEIN

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

Dredger still stuck under crane

As of July 29, the 'Hein' in Brake still could not be salvaged and remained stuck in pos. 53° 21' N 008° 30' E. The dredger first broke through a jetty for reasons still unknown and then crashed into the edge of a quay. As a result, a loading crane on the quay collapsed and fell onto the ship. A specialist company must first detach the head of the crane that fell onto the deck of the vessel with the sheerleg 'BHV Athlet' (MMSI: 211523490), supported by shore based mobile cranes. The salvage of the ship will continue for the next few days. The conveyor system, the overturned crane, and the damaged dredger have beem wedged together as a result of the impact. To prevent further damage to the ship and port infrastructure, comprehensive securing of the respective structures was being undertaken. These preparatory measures were a prerequisite for a safe and coordinated salvage of the ship. They will continue over the next few days. The steel and wood structure of the jetty has also suffered significant damage. The crane runway beam was largely destroyed, and a loading crane located buckled under the force of the impact and collapsed completely onto the ship. In addition, a conveyor belt and housing on the quayside were severely damaged. A hydraulic line on the crane was ruptured, causing a small amount of hydraulic fluid to leak into the port basin. The fluid was contained and removed on July 25 by the Brake Volunteer Fire Department and the NLWKN (Lower Saxony State Office for Water Management, Coastal Protection and Nature Conservation). Several cracks were discovered in the bow area of the 'Hein'. The Ship Safety Department of the Maritime Accident Insurance Association (SEE BG) therefore immediately issued a sailing ban. The affected area of the port has been closed to shipping. Operations in other port areas were continued. Report swith photos and video: https://www.nwzonline.de/wesermarsch/schiffsunfall-in-brake-bergungsarbeiten-nach-kollision-mit-kaianlage-starten_a_4,2,1470611428.html https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/niedersachsen/oldenburg_ostfriesland/nach-unfall-im-seehafen-brake-schiffsbergung-ist-noch-nicht-moeglich,brake-100.html

Allison in Brake

On the afternoon of July 25, 2025, the 'Hein' allided with a quay at the port of Brake. The dredger veered off course before striking the quay and coming to rest along the riverbank in pos. 53° 21' N 008° 30 E. The 'Hein' suffered significant bow damage with multiple hull breaches. A quay-mounted crane was also knocked down, crashing onto the dredger's deck and rupturing several hydraulic lines. The relevant authorities confirmed that a minor quantity of hydraulic oil leaked into the water, but stated it was minimal and expected to evaporate quickly. The cause of the dredger's deviation remained unknown, and an investigation was underway. The ' Hein' was stationary at the North Quay as of July 26. Photos: https://www.shipspotting.com/photos/3866610?navList=gallery&category=39&page=1&viewType=normal&sortBy=newest https://www.shipspotting.com/photos/3866605?navList=gallery&category=39&page=1&viewType=normal&sortBy=newest

Sheerleg proceeded to grounding site

On July 27, the sheerleg 'Athlet' (MMSI: 211523490), which had just raised the tug 'Orca' in Bremen, proceeded to Brake to remove the wreckage following the crane collapse of a port crane onto the deck of the 'Hein'. On July 28, experts from NiedersachsenPorts and a salvage company were planning the next steps for the removal of the debris and the dredger, which had broken through the wood and steel quay and was now partially resting on rocks. No water has entered the ship so far, but there has been damage to the bow and parts of the hull. The ship was therefore not allowed to continue sailing; The quay was closed, but passing ship traffic was not restricted. Oil booms were laid out as a precaution. A hydraulic line had ruptured when the crane toppled over, and a small amount of oil leaked into the port basin, while most of it spread onto the deck of the dredger. Why the dredger deviated from its course and allided with the quayside, remained unclear and subject of investigations.