Lindenau tackles canal accident ship

The ADM Group shipyard, in Kiel at the northeastern end of the 98km long waterway, carried out two weeks of repairs and repainting on the 78.3m long, 3,700gt ship in its Dock 11.

The ultra-specialist Red7 Alliance boasts a 250MSW, 16-man Sat system allowing continuous diving operations, a 6.0m³ diving bell with heave dampening system, a main crane of 140 tonnes at 7.75m to 70 tonnes at 15m, accommodation for 80, a clear deck of 550m2 with capacity for 1,500 tonnes and a fully equipped hydraulic folding helideck.

The ship left immediately after the repairs for work in the Baltic. John Long, Fleet Manager of Vessel Management Services (VMS), praised Lindenau’s “fast and dedicated response – despite our unexpected arrival and the initially unknown extent of the job”.

The fortunes of the once-bankrupt Lindenau yard have revived since joining the ADM Group and partners ADM Kiel and Nobiskrug Rendsburg in 2013.

Red7 Alliance limped into Lindenau originally after a collision with the gate of the main southbound lock in Brunsbuettel at the other end of the canal. Officials said “considerable damage” and flooding was caused to lock and gate structures and shipping was delayed. Initially it was feared the lock gate would need dismantling for repair in a local shipyard, but after inspection it was discovered that repairs could be carried out on site. There was a similar accident on one of the smaller lock gates just a week after the Red7 Alliance incident.

The entire Kiel Canal, the world’s busiest man-made waterway, is in need of much renovation. It was partially closed in early 2013 after two lock gates failed in Brunsbuettel and ships larger than 125m had to sail via Skagerakk – a 450km detour.