On Wednesday morning at about 0430 hours the jib of a crane that was being transported on the ship Mv “Meri”, for reasons still unknown, hit both of the Holtenau high bridges shortly after passing through the lock of the canal. Parts of the crane probably fell into the canal. As a result, both the Holtenau high bridges and the Kiel Canal have been closed to all traffic, including cyclists and pedestrians, since the accident. In accordance with the latest information from the radio and television broadcaster NDR, the Kiel Canal, which was temporarily closed in both directions, was reopened to shipping traffic without restrictions on Wednesday evening. The police in Kiel confirmed this to the NDR, but there is no official statement until now from the police.
According to the current status of the Police investigation, no one was injured in the accident. During the day, experts inspected the damage to the bridges.
How long the closures will last cannot be said at this time. Experts will first have to assess the damage.
No information can yet be given about the damage on the ship. The investigations by the water police in Kiel into the cause of the accident have not yet been completed. It is not yet possible to say whether it was human or technical error, and now it is the subject of the investigation.
The police are unable to provide any information on the extent of the damage at the present, as it was stated.
Source: Polizeidirektion Kiel
