According to reports, a tragic accident occurred on September 22 when the inland cargo vessel Spes-Vera collided with a German pleasure yacht on the Prinses Margrietkanaal near Warten. This unfortunate incident resulted in one fatality and left another individual injured.
The collision prompted an extensive emergency response, leading to the temporary closure of a section of the canal. Authorities received alerts around 2:30 p.m. regarding the crash near Fonejachtbrug bridge, located south of Leeuwarden.
The Spes-Vera, an 86-meter cargo barge built in 2001 and en route from Groningen to Lelystad, struck the yacht’s stern with significant force. The impact caused the yacht to capsize, throwing both individuals onboard into the water.
A swift response from emergency services ensued; fire brigades from various towns including Grou and Sneek were deployed alongside divers and rescue teams equipped with fireboats and police vessels. A trauma helicopter was also dispatched for immediate medical assistance.
Rescue operations lasted about an hour before both occupants were retrieved from the canal. Tragically, a 69-year-old woman was pronounced dead at a local hospital while a 76-year-old man sustained injuries that required hospitalization.
No crew members aboard the Spes-Vera reported any injuries following this incident. The collision caused significant disruption as it left the barge positioned across kilometer marker 75 of the canal, prompting Rijkswaterstaat to halt all maritime traffic temporarily.
A rope was secured between both vessels for stabilization during recovery efforts. By late afternoon, authorities managed to relocate Spes-Vera to a nearby quay which allowed shipping activities to resume after several vessels had been waiting due to this closure.
An investigation into this serious incident is currently underway as officials seek answers regarding its cause; preliminary questioning has already taken place with Spes-Vera’s captain involved in discussions about what transpired that day.
This event has been classified by local emergency services as “GRIP 1,” indicating it necessitated coordinated action due to its severity. The Prinses Margrietkanaal serves as an essential shipping route within Friesland; thus disruptions like these can have far-reaching impacts on local commerce and transport logistics moving forward.
