An unmanoeuvrable Dutch freighter has been towed safely from the Unterwarnow back to Rostock's overseas port.

The 122 metre long freighter "Lingeborg" (7,350 tonnes) was wrecked near the Neptun shipyard at the beginning of January. According to Rostock's harbour master, the ship had a blackout and was drifting unmanoeuvrable due to the strong south-westerly winds in the direction of the sea channel to the Baltic Sea. The captain carried out an emergency anchoring manoeuvre, as a result of which two fairway buoys were touched.

The two harbour tugs "Fairplay 55" and "Fairplay 64" then towed the damaged vessel back to the overseas port where the "Lingeborg" had previously cast off. After around 60 minutes, the Warnow fairway was clear again. No one was injured.

On the day before the accident, the cargo ship loaded with fertiliser had been subjected to a detailed inspection by the shipping police, during which no defects were found.

kdk, NDR