Classification
- Incident Type: Capsize unknown mechanism
- Tug involvement: Yes
- Tug mechanism: Not established.
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Catherine Letzer |
| Vessel Type | Tug |
| Flag State | |
| IMO Number | |
| Gross Tonnage | 86 |
| LOA (m) | |
| Year Built | 1954 |
| Owner/Operator | Sleepdienst Letzer |
| Crew Size |
The tug was formerly Union 3. An official Belgian fleet register lists Catherine Letzer at 86 gross tons, built at Bremerhaven in 1954, with call sign ORKS and Remorquage Letzer as owner. Historical accounts give conflicting length figures and do not consistently distinguish overall length. Belgian register, Belgian Ships Archive, p.33
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 1967-02-25 |
| Location | Hemiksem |
| Coordinates | |
| Region | Belgium |
| Fatalities | |
| Injuries | |
| Missing | |
| Direct Damage | |
| Economic Damage |
The date is reported by the ClydeMaritime account, rather than independently confirmed by a contemporary casualty record. ClydeMaritime history
Key facts
- The ClydeMaritime history dates the capsize to 25 February 1967 near Hemiksem. Account
- That account names the assisted tanker “Hercantile Trader”; its identity is unconfirmed. Account
- Belgian Ships Archive records a Hemiksem accident and subsequent rebuilding, but gives an uncertain 1966 sinking date and 1967 rebuilding year. History, p.33
- A later illustrated tug history describes a modification in 1968, consistent with the forum's rebuilding year. TugeZine, p.58
Narrative
Catherine Letzer was assisting a tanker near Hemiksem when it reportedly capsized. The ClydeMaritime vessel history gives 25 February 1967 and spells the tanker name “Hercantile Trader”. Neither the towline arrangement nor the maneuver immediately preceding the capsize is described. The tanker name remains unverified. ClydeMaritime history
Later histories indicate that the tug was rebuilt or modified, but disagree on the chronology. Belgian Ships Archive associates rebuilding in 1967 with a Hemiksem accident and tentatively dates sinking to 1966. ClydeMaritime gives rebuilding in 1968; an illustrated 2025 history also places a modification in 1968. These accounts do not establish whether the modification and casualty repairs were the same work. Belgian Ships Archive, p.33, TugeZine, p.58
Casualties, salvage arrangements, pollution and financial loss remain unknown. The available histories do not establish the capsize mechanism or a final total loss. ClydeMaritime history
Investigation
No official inquiry findings are established. The historical accounts do not explain the capsize mechanism. ClydeMaritime history
References
- ClydeMaritime: Union 3
- Belgian Ministry of Transport fleet register
- Belgian Ships Archive, July–September 2011, p.33
- TugeZine, April 2025, p.58