A crew member remains missing after a pusher tug sank in Amsterdam’s Coenhaven. The incident occurred on Saturday morning at around 08:30. Emergency services quickly deployed massive resources to the scene. The fire department used a specialized sonar boat and multiple diving teams to scan the harbour floor.
Despite these extensive efforts, rescue teams did not find the missing person. Both the police and the Amsterdam-Amstelland regional safety board now believe the missing person has died. Authorities have officially reclassified the emergency response from a rescue mission into a recovery operation.
Investigation launched into sudden sinking
The exact cause of the sinking remains unknown. Initial reports from the scene indicate that a collision did not take place before the vessel went down. The police launched a formal investigation to determine how the tugboat took on water so quickly. Authorities have not yet released the identity of the missing crew member.
The incident drew an immediate, large-scale deployment from emergency services. Police patrol boats, ambulances, and fire crews rushed to the scene. The Amsterdam port authority also sent support vessels to secure the immediate perimeter.
Disruption to port traffic
The incident prompted port authorities to temporarily close sections of the Coenhaven to commercial traffic. This closure allows emergency vessels and salvage teams to operate safely in the shipping lane. The Rijkswaterstaat national water authority works alongside local police to coordinate the upcoming salvage of the sunken vessel.
Divers must first assess the exact position of the tugboat on the harbour floor. Heavy salvage cranes will then lift the vessel to the surface. Officials expect the recovery and investigation teams to occupy the site for several days.
@ anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
