The Dutch Safety Board (DSB) is launching an investigation into the collision between a tug and a chemical tanker on the Nieuwe Waterweg in Rotterdam. The accident occurred in the early morning of Sunday 23 February 2025 in dense fog.
On the night of Saturday 22 February to Sunday 23 February 2025, a tanker collided with a tugboat in dense fog. This happened on the Nieuwe Waterweg in Rotterdam. The tug was there waiting for another incoming ship.
The collision with the tanker created a hole in the tug’s hull, causing the tug’s accommodation to make water. To prevent the tug from sinking, the crew turned on the emergency fire pumps and the vessel was sailed to a shallow depth as a precaution. Other vessels came to the rescue and pushed the boat onto the shallow end.
Exhaust fumes from the emergency fire pumps developed in the accommodation, causing six people to feel unwell. As a precaution, four people were taken to hospital for observation; they were allowed to return home after being checked.
Also read: DSB: Damen Shiprepair needs to improve risk management
Safety Board and shipping investigations
The Dutch Safety Board investigates shipping incidents if they involve structural safety gains or if there is an obligation to investigate the accident. The investigation explicitly does not focus on blame or liability.
The flag state of the tanker is the Marshall Islands, the Marshall Islands investigation authority is acting as a ‘state with a substantial interest’.
Also read: DSB: Stricter instructions for transfer of pilots
