Container Ship Collides with Autonomous Barge, Containers Spilled Near Rotterdam

On Thursday, a container ship collided with an inland vessel on the river Scheur near Rotterdam, causing at least four containers to fall into the water. One of the vessels involved was an autonomous barge, possibly operating in autonomous mode at the time of the incident. The collision took place near Koning Willem-Alexander Boulevard in Maassluis, leading to the loss of multiple shipping containers, all of which were empty and washed up on the riverbank.

The maintenance and salvage vessel Hebo Cat 7 was dispatched to recover the cranes from the riverbank. The incident involved the River Drone 5, an autonomous dry cargo barge operated by a Dutch firm. The vessel was present at the scene according to AIS data and has sparked interest in the use of remote-controlled technology in maritime operations. The owner and operator of the barge have been contacted for further information.

The River Drone fleet represents a significant experiment in commercial remote-controlled operation in Europe. These vessels are equipped for automated, remote-controlled operation using Seafar navigation technology. Measuring about 100 meters in length with a deadweight capacity of 3,850 tonnes, the fleet began service in January 2023. The incident comes as the Netherlands prepares to allow the operation of commercial vessels on inland canal systems without crew starting January 1, 2025, following recent amendments to inland navigation laws.

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