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17 August 2005
AMSTERDAM — Clipper Stad Amsterdam has run aground in the IJ River as the flagship was heading the procession of over 600 boats from IJmuiden to the Dutch capital for SAIL 2005.
Crown-Prince Willem-Alexander was steering the vessel at the time of the accident. Tug boats freed the Stad Amsterdam and pulled it into deeper water shortly after 2pm, news agency ANP reported.
The “SAIL IN” by a fleet of Tall Ships and other historic vessels marks the start of the six-day maritime event that is held every five years.
The Stad Amsterdam had Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Amsterdam Mayor Job Cohen aboard.
It is estimated over two million people will visit the festival and thousands of people travelled to IJmuiden and Amsterdam on Wednesday for the grand opening.
The event has already had to cope with a strike by Amsterdam sanitation workers and a derailment at Amsterdam Central Station that has limited the number of tracks that can be used to transport people to and from SAIL.
[Copyright Expatica News + ANP 2005]
Subject: Dutch news