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Main River Reopens to Shipping After Diesel Spill Near Erlabrunn

Inspections found no dead fish or waterfowl, with experts expecting residual diesel to dissipate naturally.

Overview

  • The district authority lifted the closure between the Erlabrunn and Goßmannsdorf locks, restoring navigation on the affected stretch.
  • Oil booms were removed after crews contained the leak and suctioned the diesel–water mixture from the river.
  • Officials estimate up to 3,500 liters of diesel leaked from a fully occupied passenger ship, with about 2,000 liters entering the Main.
  • Roughly 30 kilometers of the waterway were closed during the response, leaving about 30 vessels temporarily moored.
  • Police report a technical defect has been ruled out, with a 59-year-old crew member suspected of negligently failing to secure the tank system as investigations into water pollution continue.