The 10.50 metre long displacement vessel "Kroelle", a self-built vessel, sank off Fehmarn in August 2013 after a fire in the engine room; the crew had previously been rescued. The investigation of the salvaged wreck by the Federal Bureau of Maritime Casualty Investigation revealed that the seawater filter was heavily clogged with seaweed. This meant that not enough cooling water was being injected into the exhaust pipe and it became so hot that the water collector melted. The cooling water now ran directly into the boat and eventually undercut the exhaust pipe. Now even more seawater was seeping in, as there was neither a swan neck nor a non-return flap. There was also no acoustic bilge alarm. By the time the water ingress was noticed, it was already too late for the pumps. The full report can be downloaded here: www.bsu-bund.de
Christian Tiedt
Editor Travel
