Man overboard in Antwerp port collision

12 December 2005

BRUSSELS — A crew member was knocked overboard as two shipping vessels collided in the Antwerp harbour on Sunday night.

Shipping police commissioner Mariska Van Hoylandt said the accident took place at about 9.10pm near the Kallosluis.

The ship Alexandros collided with the Nina 1 as it left the Kallo lock and one crew member fell overboard.

He was later pulled from the Schelde River by emergency authorities and taken with serious injuries to hospital.

Both ships started taking on water and were towed to a sandbank to wait out the night. The Nina 1 was especially damaged.

The situation was brought under control during the night and neither of the two ships was carrying dangerous goods.

Experts will examine the damage to the ships at ebb tide.

Subject: Belgian news