On 11th September, at around 8:45 AM local time, an inland motor freighter, NIJMEGEN MAX, while passing under the Willemsbrug Bridge, Rotterdam, hit the bridge. This resulted in the loss of five containers that fell in the Nieuwe Maas River. No casualties were reported, but the bridge sustained some damages in the incident.

The lost containers drifted in the water and moved toward the Van Brienenoordbrug bridge. These floating containers posed a risk to other vessels, and as informed by the witnesses to the incident, the next vessel had to stop to stay clear and avoid collision with these floating containers.

Four containers were recovered from the river, and one container that had sunk was later found at the riverbed, according to the Port of Rotterdam Authority.

Moreover, the spokesperson of the Port authority suggested that the vessel captain might have possibly made a mistake in estimating the height of the bridge potentially causing the allision. The captain of the vessel is being investigated.

Within the span of six months, this is the second incident where a vessel has hit Willemsbrug Bridge. On 1st March, MONIKA DEYMANN struck the Willemsbrug Bridge and lost three containers.

The Marine Traffic data shows the NIJMEGEN MAX is currently at ALBLASSERDAM Port, Netherlands.