22 September 2009, port of Antwerp
Just after 02 :00h this morning, the reefer Summer Flower (IMO nr . 8413019) arrived in front of the Berendrecht lock to enter the port  when the tug crew noticed that there was a finnwhale wedged on the bulbous bow. The vessel must have collided with the whale a couple of days ago and it stayed on the bow for hundreds of kilometers.
The carcass was removed from the vessels bow and secured at a quay at the entrance channel  to the lock. This morning the whale carcass broke free of its mooring and floated into the river.
Here the URS Union 8 has picked up the whale and towed it back to the quayside. Later in the day, it will be towed just over 20km upstream to the Saint Anna beach near the town where it can be brought ashore.
Union 8 details :
Call sign: ORKE
Gross registered tonnage: 398
Nett tonnage: 119
Length : 30,00m
Beam :  11,00m
Draft : 4,50m
Bollard Pull: 43 tons
Speed: 12,5 kn
Flag: Belgium
Built: 1996
Yard: Astilleros Armon No.371 / Navia (Asturias) Spain
Propulsion: Voith Schneider
Owner: URS Belgium