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On the afternoon of July 25, 2025, the ' Kepejora', carrying 1,400 tons of scrap metal, sank near the Auvelais lock. The barge had departed from Comet in Châtelet and bound for Ghent, was damaged during or shortly after loading. The crew only noticed later that the barge was taking on water. A large-scale rescue operation involving pumps, cranes, and dozens of trucks commenced with trucks waiting in queues at the quay to take the cargo. The operation was complicated by the difficult-to-access quay and the volume of the cargo. A total of 78 trucks would have been needed to unload everything.The firefighters of the Val de Sambre area, who started operating the pumps at 3 p.m., had to call the Crisnée Civil Protection Department. All efforts could not prevent the barge from sinking at a water depth of around 4,5m metres at around 6:05 p.m. The wheelhouse and parts of the starboard side remained above water, but the cargo holds were completely flooded and submerged at port side. An oil boom was laid out around the wreck by the fire brigade as a precaution. The SPW's Inspector General of Waterways has been dispatched to the scene. Reports with photo and video: https://www.gva.be/binnenland/binnenvaartschip-kepejora-zinkt-in-de-samber-reddingsoperatie-mislukt-ondanks-massale-inzet/80056130.html https://www.lavenir.net/regions/sambre-meuse/2025/07/25/accident-fluvial-a-auvelais-naufrage-dune-peniche-chargee-de-1400-tonnes-de-ferraille-video-CRU2FNSQHVCAFEAJXCXUQPFXPE/

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.

On the morning of July 26, the sheerleg 'BHV Athlet' (MMSI: 211523490) with a lifting capacity of 100 tons brought the heavily damaged 'Orca' back to the surface. Divers had previously attached slings to the vessel, which the crane used to pull it to the surface. The next step was to pump out the water-oil mixture in the vessel, check the vessel for buoyancy, and tow it away. The leak in the hull had previously been temporarily sealed. The drilling crane was cut off and removed during the night of July 25. The heavily damaged tug was moored at the quay of Nehlsen in the Industry Port of Bremen. Report with video and photos: https://www.butenunbinnen.de/nachrichten/bremen-industriehafen-schlepper-gesunken-bohrkran-100.html https://www.shipspotting.com/photos/3867513?navList=gallery&category=39&page=1&viewType=normal&sortBy=newest https://www.shipspotting.com/photos/3867092?navList=gallery&category=39&page=1&viewType=normal&sortBy=newest https://www.shipspotting.com/photos/3867091?navList=gallery&category=39&page=1&viewType=normal&sortBy=newest

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 the incident, 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 relevsng 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. Report with photo: https://www.presseportal.de/blaulicht/pm/119277/6084453

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