The three salvaged sections of Klipper ENI: 04027690
loaded on the barge Beugen on their way to the breakers yard.

While loading a cargo of scrap the "Klipper", 1127 ts (EU-No.: 04027690), broke in two parts amidships in basin II of the port of Kehl in the midday hours of Jan 26, 2016. The crew was safe. Only the bow and the wheelhouse were still emerging above water. The fire rescue which was on scene along with forces of the THW with 50 men laid out an oil boom, and a special company was called to drain the fuel from the tanks. The basin II was barred for ship traffic, Rhine traffic was not affected, and little pollutants were spilled.

On Feb 22 the raised 120-tons-stern section of the "Klipper" was loaded onto the barge "Beugen" (ENI: 4606890) in the port of Kehl to be carried away for demolishing by the pusher tug "Matricaria" (EU-No.: 06003817). The sheerleg "Hebolift 5" continued with the foreship of the wreck. The stern of the "Klipper" had re-emerged above the surface on Feb 20, after the section was cut off with a chain saw puller. But with 300 tons water inside the aft it was too heavy to be finally lifted, and only after the remaining fuel was pumped off and the wind had ceased, the salvors of Hebo Maritiemservice managed to lift it onto the barge. It was hoped to complete the wreck removal until Feb 24. The wreckage was to be disposed of in the Netherlands after an investigation.

The salvage of the "Klipper" did not go ahead as planned on Feb 23. The foreship was too heave to be raised by the 160-tons-crane "Hebolift 5". Workers first had to weld off a part to reduce the weight so that it finally could be lifted into the hold of the barge "Beugen" only at midday where the stern had already been deposited on Feb 20. In the afternoon the preparations to raise the midbody started which will, if everything goes according to plan, be investigated by experts on Feb 24 because this is the section where the ship broke in two.

text by member Timsen

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