Classification
- Incident Type: Capsize unknown mechanism
- Severity: High
- Vessel Type: Tug
- Evidence: Secondary NU.nl/ANP report
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | En Avant 18 |
| Vessel Type | Tug |
| Owner/Operator | Rederij Muller, Dordrecht |
| Persons On Board | 4 |
| Tow | 80-metre English ship |
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 2004-05-13 |
| Location | Oude Maas near Develhaven, Netherlands |
| Region | Netherlands |
| Coordinates | 51.8144, 4.6692 |
| Fatalities | |
| Injuries | 1 |
| Missing | 1 |
| Direct Damage |
Key facts
- En Avant 18 capsized during the night of 13 to 14 May 2004 near Develhaven on the Oude Maas.
- The 24-year-old captain remained missing when the report was published on 14 May.
- Three other people escaped; a woman among them sustained minor injuries.
- The tug was salvaged and towed to the Wilhelminahaven in Dordrecht.
- The report says about 60 people joined the overnight search, followed by a helicopter search.
Narrative
During the night of 13 to 14 May 2004, the tug En Avant 18 capsized on the Oude Maas near Develhaven in the Netherlands. The NU.nl/ANP report identifies Rederij Muller of Dordrecht as the owner and states that the tug was towing an 80-metre English ship for the Dordt in Stoom event. Four people were aboard. The 24-year-old captain from Dordrecht was still missing when the article was published on 14 May. Three other people escaped from the tug, including two men from Dordrecht and a woman from Barendrecht who was reported to have minor injuries.
About 60 people took part in the overnight search, which continued until 05:00. Police continued the search later that day with a helicopter equipped with special cameras. The tug was salvaged on Friday and towed to the Wilhelminahaven in Dordrecht. The report states that the cause of the accident was not known at publication. It does not establish whether the missing captain was later recovered, the capsize mechanism, the tug's registry particulars, or the physical or financial damage.
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|---|
| 2004-05-13 | En Avant 18 capsized during the night near Develhaven while towing an English vessel. |
| 2004-05-14 05:00 | The overnight search involving about 60 people ended. |
| 2004-05-14 | The tug was salvaged and towed to the Wilhelminahaven in Dordrecht. |
| 2004-05-14 | Police continued the search for the missing captain with a helicopter. |
Investigation
No official investigation findings are identified in the reviewed NU.nl/ANP report. It states that the cause was not known at publication, and the final status of the missing captain remains unresolved in the available material.