Crane accident: Investigations underway after the Schlei closure is lifted

It could have been a bitter weekend for dozens of crews. On Friday, a floating crane being towed from Schleimünde towards Kappeln tore down more than half of the overhead cables above the busy Baltic Sea fjord. As a result, the Schlei was immediately closed in both directions. Click here for our report!

As it was initially unclear whether the other wires were also damaged, the closure was initially indefinite. The all-clear was given on Friday evening: no further danger for passing ships; traffic was reopened in time for the weekend. There was no major traffic jam in front of and behind the accident site. According to YACHT photographer Nico Krauss, who was himself stuck off Rabelsund, only a few dozen crews were affected on the east side.

Bitter irony: the floating crane was actually supposed to provide relief, not obstruction. It was on its way to Lindaunis to help with the renovation of the bridge over the Schlei.

The fact that it posed a real danger to the overhead power lines near Rabelsund was also known to the crew of the tugboat that was supposed to bring it to the site. According to YACHT information, the crane boom was to be lowered shortly before the passage.

A member of the crew jokingly says shortly beforehand: "That's the opponent. Let's see..." This is confirmed by a video from on board, which is available to the editorial team. Shortly afterwards, more urgently: "He needs to go down slowly now". While the tug continues travelling at undiminished speed, someone asks: "Does that fit?" Someone then says loudly and urgently: "The crane has to come down!"...

Then everything happens very quickly: "Hey, stop!" shouts a voice. While the engine is throttled back almost simultaneously, a crash can be heard in the background, followed by an angry roar: "Maaaannn! Idiots! What the fuck is this?! Ey, this can't be true!" Only then does the recording stop.

Apparently there was a lack of coordination between the tug and the floating crane, or the crane crew misjudged the height of the boom. In any case, the crane tore six cables from the electricity pylons. A picture published by the regional newspaper shz, taken by an eyewitness who photographed the incident, shows a veritable fire of sparks where the cables touch the yellow steel pipework of the boom.

Despite the favourable outcome, investigations are now underway into a serious hazard to shipping traffic. The cost of repairing the pipes will undoubtedly run into the tens of thousands - and once again result in the Schlei being closed. But not ad hoc on a Friday morning in the middle of the peak season, but at least with plenty of advance notice.