Steve reported witnessing a difficult operation via the orange Alert Us button, where a barge had run aground in the rocks near the castle of Freÿr. Firefighters were struggling to free the boat, which was loaded with 1,200 tonnes of grapeshot, due to a loss of rudder. Despite divers being sent to examine the situation, and raising the water level by closing the Anseremme dam, it was unsuccessful in dislodging the barge. The plan is to bring in a second barge with a crane to empty the contents of the stranded barge, making it lighter and easier to remove from the rocks.
Steve witnessed a delicate operation and told us regarding it, via the orange Alert us button, a barge ran aground in the rocks, opposite the castle of Freÿr. The firefighters were busy getting her out, but it’s no small feat.
It was a major operation for the firefighters of the Dinaphi zone. They worked, without success, to free a barge stranded in the rocks of the Meuse, this Wednesday from 7 p.m. Steve informed us via the orange Alert Us button.
It was near Waulsort, opposite the castle of Freÿr, that the boat got stuck, loaded with around 1,200 tonnes of grapeshot, according to information from the firefighters. The incident would be linked to a loss of rudder.
“At the request of SPW-Voies Navigables, divers in the area carried out a reconnaissance to determine what the barge was aground on and if there were visible risks of piercing the hull.“, explains Commander Patrice Liétart. The operation proved to be delicate, given the poor visibility and the current in the area.
The waterways then proceeded to raise the water level by more or less 10 centimeters, by closing the Anseremme dam. The firefighters hoped that this was enough to allow the barge to free itself, but it was not the case: “After several attempts, it was found that the barge might not be freed and that it was necessary to call on another barge equipped with a crane“.
A heavy imposing operation which Steve attended: “It’s impressive to see and heartbreaking at the same time to see these people trying unsuccessfully to get her out of there.“
The barge is thus still stuck in the rocks and this is likely to last, according to the Public Service of Wallonia. “The owner, he is responsible for his equipment, will bring in a second barge with a crane to empty it of its contents“, explains spokesperson Serge Toussaint. The barge, emptied of its contents, will be lighter and can be more easily freed from the rocks.
In conclusion, the operation to free the stranded barge in the rocks opposite the castle of Freÿr was a challenging one for the firefighters. Despite their efforts, the barge still remains stuck, but plans are in place to bring in another barge with a crane to empty its contents and hopefully free it from the rocks. Witnessing this delicate operation was a sobering experience for Steve, who shared his account with us through the orange Alert Us button. Let’s hope for a successful resolution to this situation and safe navigation for all waterway vessels.
