Germany Investigates Moselle River Accident Involving Autopilot Cargo Ship

German prosecutors are investigating an accident in December that paralyzed river traffic on the Moselle and trapped numerous inland cargo ships in France and Luxembourg. They believe the cargo ship responsible for destroying a critical lock was sailing on autopilot and failed to break before hitting the gates. The incident involved an inland cargo ship loaded with 1,500 tons of scrap metal bound for Mertert in Luxembourg, which collided with the lock gates on December 8, causing significant damage to the lock’s mechanism.

The public prosecutor in Koblenz, Germany reported that initial findings indicated the inland cargo ship was operating on autopilot and was apparently unattended at the time of the accident. While regulations permit the use of autopilot on the river, the captain is required to monitor the operation and intervene if necessary to prevent accidents. The ship’s engines and controls were found to be functioning properly, and there was no evidence of the captain being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Despite the ongoing investigation, the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration has reported that traffic has resumed through the lock following repairs. The first ship passed through the repaired lock on February 1, just 55 days after the incident. Initially, it was estimated that the lock could be closed until March, but repairs were expedited using assembled lock frames and new gates were installed on January 24. The waterway was reopened after successful testing, allowing vessels to resume their journeys.

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