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Four groundings within two days near Oppenheim
A series of groundings occurred on the Rhine near Oppenheim at river kilometre 474 between Oct 10, 2026, at 11:10 a.m., and Oct 11 at 6.45 a.m., with the Mainz Water Police having to respond. The first affected ship was the 'Waibel 11', (ENI: 04606820), followed on Oct 2 at 9.3 p.m. by the 'Moorea' (ENI: 02339208', on Oct 3 at 2.30 a.m. the 'Volharding 15' (ENI: 02340269) and on Oct 4 at 6.45 a.m. the 'Maasvallei' (ENI: 02338962), carrying 250 tons of hydrogen. At 3 p.m. the tanker, which was stuck next to the shipping channel at Ludwigshöhe. It initially continued on to Nierstein, where it turned around and headed back, accompanied by a work vessel from the Rhine Waterways and Shipping Authority (WSA) and the water police. When the 'Waibel 11' got stuck on the foremidday of Oct 10, the fairway showed a depth of 1.40 meters. In reality, however, the shipping channel was only about one meter deep, causing the cargo ship to run aground. The cargo on board was rearranged, allowing the ship to free itself and continue its journey after half an hour. The 'Moorea' got stuck at 9.30 p.m. and refloated at midnight, and the 'Volharding 15' on Oct 11 from 2.30 a.m. until 4.15 a.m. There was no significant damage in any of the cases. The 'Maasvallei', while sailing downstream, ran aground on the left bank of the Rhine's shipping channel and was stuck for more than eight hours. The shipping channel below Oppenheim was closed to extra-wide vessels. The maximum width allowed was 11.45 metres. The closure affected the stretch of the Rhine from Gernsheim to the Main spit near Mainz. This closure was lifted again on the afternoon of Oct 11. The 'Gunther' (ENI: 05037670) of the river authoritiy remained on site. Two warning signs on a raft in the Rhine were now intended to alert shipping to the potential shallows and guide vessels around them. Experts now had to determine whether there was indeed a shallow area at Rhine kilometer 474 and what the next steps should be. It is possible that the Rhine would need to be dredged in this area below Oppenheim to prevent further vessels from running aground.
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