On Tuesday, ALSTER, a 80-meter-long inland barge loaded with 1400 tonnes of potassium chloride sank in HAMBURG. When the accident happened, the ALSTER was moored in Kalikai, one of HAMBURG’s most popular bulk export centers in the Elbe River. The local emergency services responded immediately to the accident. They deployed an oil barrier around the ship as a precautionary measure since there were 3500 liters of diesel onboard the inland vessel. The local fire department reported that the ship sank around 6 am local time, and the exact reasons behind the accident are unknown. No environmental hazards are currently looming, as potassium chloride is a water-soluble, harmless substance used in fertilizer production. The local media reported that a specialist company will try to pump out the fuel oil from the sunk vessel when the water level falls.
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