Classification
- Incident Type: Capsize unknown mechanism
- Severity: Medium
- Tug involvement: Yes
- Tug mechanism: The source does not describe the towage arrangement or capsize mechanism.
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Catherine Letzer |
| Vessel Type | Tug |
| Flag State | |
| IMO Number | |
| Gross Tonnage | 86 |
| LOA (m) | 26.7 |
| Year Built | |
| Owner/Operator | |
| Crew Size |
Assisted vessel
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Hercantile Trader |
| Vessel Type | Tanker |
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 1967-02-25 |
| Location | Hemiksem |
| Coordinates | 51.1430, 4.3410 |
| Region | Belgium |
| Fatalities | |
| Injuries | |
| Missing | |
| Cargo Loss | |
| Direct Damage | Damage was not described; a later account states that the tug was somewhat rebuilt in 1968. |
| Economic Damage |
Key facts
- The tug was identified as Catherine Letzer, formerly Union 3.
- A later account states that the tug capsized near Hemiksem on 25 February 1967 while assisting the tanker Hercantile Trader.
- The same account gives the tug’s gross tonnage as 86 and length as 26.70 m.
- The account states that Catherine Letzer was somewhat rebuilt in 1968.
- Fatalities, injuries, missing persons, the capsize mechanism, and the extent of damage are not reported.
Narrative
The available account is a later ClydeMaritime forum post preserving a historical entry for Union 3, which had been renamed Catherine Letzer. It states that the tug capsized near Hemiksem on 25 February 1967 while assisting the tanker Hercantile Trader.
The source gives no details of the towage arrangement, weather, tides, maneuvering, emergency response, pollution, or operational disruption. It also does not report whether anyone was killed, injured, or missing. The nature and extent of damage are not described. The post says that the tug was somewhat rebuilt in 1968, but provides no repair details or cost.
The incident is therefore recorded as a capsize with an unknown mechanism. No official casualty investigation or contemporary report is identified in the available source. The vessel particulars supported by the account are limited to 86 gross tonnes and a length of 26.70 m.
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|---|
| 1967-02-25 | Catherine Letzer reportedly capsized near Hemiksem while assisting Hercantile Trader. |
| 1968 | A later account states that the tug was somewhat rebuilt. |
Investigation
No official investigation or findings are identified. The available source is a later forum post and does not explain why the tug capsized.