An unusual incident occurred on the northern pier of the harbour in Stralsund in the district of Vorpommern-Rügen on Monday morning. One of the Citymarina's two toilet and shower blocks was filled with water and sank within a very short space of time. The building was located at jetty 8, which is mainly used by guest berths. The emergency call was received by the rescue control centre at around 7 am. The cause of the sinking is still unclear and is currently being investigated. The water depth at the site is around three metres, which makes salvaging the boat a complex task.
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Fire brigade and THW set up oil booms
The city council announced that the building was full of water, but it is still unclear why. The fire brigade tried to pump it out, but the water ingress was too strong. The building sank completely within an hour. Extensive safety measures were initiated immediately after the incident. Both the fire brigade and the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) set up oil barriers around the submerged sanitary building to prevent any leaking fluids from entering the harbour basin and the Strelasund.
Investigation and salvage preparations
In order to determine the cause of the sinking and prepare for the salvage operation, the solar panels on the roof first had to be dismantled. This was necessary so that divers could examine the sunken building. On Tuesday, a diver was already on site to assess the condition of the sunken sanitary building and examine possible salvage options. The owner has been asked by the authorities to develop a concept for how the sanitary building can be raised.
Effects on port operations
Boaters calling at Stralsund harbour now have to use the marina's other sanitary facilities. The harbour is a popular port of call, especially in the summer months, and is often very busy. The affected jetty number 8 has been closed to boaters.
