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Innovaite IV to be refloated

The "Innovatie IV", 2137 ts (EU-No.: 05700810), was to be refloated on Sep 7, 2011, by the pusher tug "Domarin 12". To this purpose the Danube was closed for shipping since 8.30 a.m. until the "Innovatie IV" was pulled off and towed from Winzer to Deggendorf. The tank barge had been in collision with the river cruise ship "Avalon Tranquility" (EU-No.: 09948015) in the late evening of Sep 1 between Winzer and Flintsbach. Near Loh the 157 passengers and 41 crew members of the "Avalon Tranquility" had to be evacuated as the hull of the river cruise ship was breached and there was significant water ingress in the engine room. Fire rescue, THW and police were on scene with 200 persons and disemabarked the 201 persons who had assembled on the upper deck with life jackets on. No injuries reported. The passengers which were mainly from the USA and Canada were taken to shore with another river cruise ship and accomodated in hotels in Deggendorf. The accident happened as a follow-up of the collision of the "Innovatie" (EU-No.: 05700800) and the connected tank barge "Innovatie IV", 2137 ts (EU-No.: 05700810), which was carrying 1600 tons gas oil with the Romanian flagged self propelled barge "Carmel", 1336 ts (EU-No.: 08848008) with the barge "GSL 2500", 1520 ts (EU-No.: 08848007). The "Innovatie" had run aground and tried to free herself without permission. The captain did not see the approaching "Carmel" which was carrying 1600 tons sun sun flower seeds. The "Carmel" suffered water ingress when being struck amidships but was able to proceed to Straubing. The "Innovatie IV" was secured and the plan was to pull the vessel off on Sep 3. During the night the "Avalon Tranquility" passed the grounded vessel which suddenly refloated due to wave impact and drifted against the river cruise ship.