Video: Container Barge Strikes Bridge in Rotterdam

An inland container barge allided with the center span of the iconic Willemsbrug bridge east of the port of Rotterdam on Wednesday. Three containers went into the water, according to local media.

According to local outlet Rijinmond, no one was injured in the collision, and all of the boxes have since been recovered. The Willemsbrug bridge was closed to traffic while engineers evaluated it for any potential damage, but has since been reopened. The cause of the incident is under investigation. 

The vessel involved in the allision is believed to be the inland freighter Rhenus Duisburg. 

Ron Teuben, an inland barge captain for a different vessel, told Radio Rijnmond that the incident was likely the result of a miscalculation prior to loading. The air draft calculation depends upon the tide, bridge height, draft and other factors that may influence clearance. Teuben estimated that the container stack was roughly in the range of half a meter too high for the bridge at the time of the allision. 

The accident coincides with the anniversary of the bridge's opening on July 1, 1981. 

Schip vaart tegen Willemsbrug en verliest 2 containers #willemsbrug #binnenvaart #portofrotterdam pic.twitter.com/5Fmtv6OmIx

— Bart Van Eijck (@bvaneijck) July 1, 2020

In Rotterdam ist ein Containerschiff gegen die Willemsbrug geknallt. pic.twitter.com/X7gw5ZVu7P

— Lothar L. G... (@papabaer2014) July 1, 2020

Berging van container MSC die eerder die dag van een schip was gevallen nadat deze tegen de Willemsbrug was aangevaren pic.twitter.com/JupSgtdo5X

— INDIAAN (@indiaan1908) July 1, 2020

#Rotterdam #Willemsbrug, foutje (niet) bedankt, met dank aan @WegeVan: pic.twitter.com/JZroKB6fIk

— Harmen van der Werf (@HarmenWerf) July 1, 2020

Foutje, bedankt! #willemsbrug #Rotterdam pic.twitter.com/pqp7WzrqtZ

— Emina (@Emina_010) July 1, 2020