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Operator error responsible for oil spill
After approximately 3,000 liters of diesel fuel leaked from the 'Viking Alsvin' into the Main River near Goßmannsdorf in the Würzburg district, a technical defect has now been ruled out. Apparently, an operator error rather than a defect, was responsible for the spill on the Main River. According to police, there were indications of negligent misuse of the refueling equipment. After reports of the oil slick in the Main River were received on Dec 6, officers from the Ochsenfurt Police Stationhad stopped the ship at the Goßmannsdorf lock. It turned out that it had lost the diesel fuel after refueling at the river port in Würzburg. Officers from the Würzburg Water Police had taken over the investigation into the cause of the water pollution on site. They inspected the ship and its fuel tank for damage. They have now ruled out a technical defect. Current findings indicated that a 59-year-old crew member failed to properly close the tank after refueling. The man was now facing charges for suspected water pollution. The police stated that the extent of the environmental and material damage has not yet been determined. The 'Viking Alsvin' left Würzburg on Dec 10 and berthed in Bamberg on Dec 11, destined to Trier.
Shipping on the Rhine reopened
The section of the Main between Erlabrunn and Goßmannsdorf (Würzburg district), which was affected by the oil spill from the 'Viking Alsvin', has been reopened to shippingh on the evening of Dec 9 by the district administration. On the afternoon, the emergency services and authorities had decided to lift the closure between approximately 6:00 and 6:30 p.m. The decisive factor was test runs by five ships: These showed that the remaining diesel slick was being washed out of smaller tributaries by the water movement and carried into the main channel. Drone footage confirmed this so-called mobilization effect. As part of the operation, the oil booms in the affected area were removed. Two new booms were installed at the weirs in Randersacker and Würzburg. The diesel residues were collected there and were subsequently to be extracted in a controlled and professional manner. It was assumed that the diesel fuel would slowly degrade through natural processes.No dead fish, waterfowl, or other marine life have been reported. Meanwhile, the police was investigating whether there was a technical defect in the ship's fuel nozzle or an operator error. The 'Viking Alsvin' was berthed in Würzburg as of Dec 10.
River cruise ship caused oil spill on Main
Shipping on the Main River around Würzburg was suspended between Eibelstadt and Erlabrunn since the evening of Dec 6, 2025, after the 'Viking Alsvin', enroute from Bamberg to Trier, lost approximately 3,000 liters of diesel fuel near Goßmannsdorf. Most of the diesel has been removed by the fire department. On the morning of Dec 9, the four fixed oil booms were dismantled and replaced by booms placed directly in front of the weirs at the dams. Following this, five of the 30 ships currently waiting will be able navigate the currently closed section of the Main. This will allow them to test how small amounts of diesel fuel, which could not be contained by technical means, behaved. The suction effect of the ships will dislodge the fuel and then collect it at the dams. Depending on the progress of this test, a decision was to be made on the afternoon regarding when shipping can resume completely. The Main will continue to be closely monitored. According to authorities, there was no indication of major damage so far. The reason why the river cruise ship lost more than 3,000 liters of diesel remaied unclear. An initial suspicion that there might have been a leak in the ship's hull proved incorrect. Authorities were currently assuming a technical defect. After the accident was discovered on the evening of Dec 7, the ship, on the orders of the water police, ended its voyage at the Goßmannsdorf lock. The water police immediately informed the Würzburg Control Center, whereupon, under the command of the Würzburg District Fire Inspectorate, the fire departments from Ochsenfurt, Kleinochsenfurt, Eibelstadt, Randersacker, and Veitshöchheim, with approximately 100 personnel, as well as other aid organizations, were dispatched to take immediate action. Several oil booms were deployed across the Main River to contain the further spread of the spilled fuel. A thin film of oil reached the Würzburg area due to the current, but was immediately monitored and contained. After the fire department cleaned the ship's hull and repaired the leak, the damaged vessel was permitted to continue its journey to Schweinfurt on the evening following a technical inspection and official clearance. The water police, fire department, and other authorities and aid organizations had the situation under control. On the morning of Dec 7, oil slicks reached the city of Würzburg. Emergency crews from the professional and volunteer fire departments were active at several locations throughout the city. Among other measures, an oil boom has been deployed near the Arndt St, to prevent further spread of the pollutant. In addition, emergency crews deployed several hundred meters of oil boom in the area of the Old Main Bridge. These floating barriers were intended to help absorb the oil and prevent it from spreading further. Due to the ongoing work, shipping traffic on the Main River was suspended in the affected sections. The city of Würzburg urged the public to exercise caution: Fishing and swimming were currently prohibited. The cleanup work on the Main River is expected to take several more days. Reports with photos and video: https://www.radiogong.com/aktuelles/news/region-wuerzburg-schifffahrt-moeglicherweise-ab-dienstagnachmittag-wieder-moeglich https://www.landkreis-wuerzburg.de/Auf-einen-Klick/Aktuelles/Gro%C3%9Feinsatz-auf-dem-Main-zwischen-Randersacker-und-Go%C3%9Fmannsdorf-Passagierschiff-verliert-Dieselkraftstoff-Keine-Gefahr-f%C3%BCr-die-Bev%C3%B6lkerung.php?object=tx,2680.5.1&ModID=7&FID=2680.46602.1&NavID=2680.230&La=1# https://www.veitshoechheim-blog.de/2025/12/olunfall-auf-dem-main-warnung-auch-fur-hundebesitzer-in-veitshochheim-olschlieren-im-bereich-des-hochheimer-stegs-gesichtet.html https://www.tvmainfranken.de/nach-schiffsunfall-bei-gossmannsdorf-feuerwehr-errichtet-oelsperre-auf-dem-main-404722/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAdJOMDnfBo
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