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Accidents

Primula Seaways grounding at Terneuzen (2026)

One local report described the vessel as Norwegian. Danish registry information in an official investigation report, DFDS fleet records and a second local report support Denmark as the flag state.

Classification

FieldValue
Incident TypeGrounded
SeverityMedium
RegionNetherlands

Vessel Details

FieldValue
Vessel NamePrimula Seaways
Vessel TypeRo-Ro / Car Carrier
Flag StateDenmark [DK]
IMO Number9259513
Gross Tonnage37985
LOA (m)231

One local report described the vessel as Norwegian. Danish registry information in an official investigation report, DFDS fleet records and a second local report support Denmark as the flag state.

Incident Details

FieldValue
Date2026-08-07
LocationWestbuitenhaven, Terneuzen, Netherlands
RegionNetherlands
Physical damageNot established in the reviewed reporting.

Key facts

  • Primula Seaways grounded at about 10:20 local time while sailing from Scandinavia toward Ghent.
  • The bow came against the bank and the vessel remained partly elevated in the Westbuitenhaven.
  • Three tugs attended with the Rijkswaterstaat vessel Maeslant and the water police.
  • The tugs refloated the ship at about 12:45 and towed it away from the bank.

Narrative

Primula Seaways was approaching Ghent from Scandinavia on the morning of 7 August 2026 when it grounded in the Westbuitenhaven at Terneuzen. Local reporting placed the event at about 10:20, with the incident reported at about 10:25. The vessel's bow came against the bank and part of the hull was lifted clear of its normal floating position.

Three tugs assembled around the ship. The Rijkswaterstaat vessel Maeslant and the water police also attended. After preparations during the morning, the tugs pulled Primula Seaways clear at about 12:45 and moved it away from the bank. Contemporary reports did not establish whether the vessel sustained damage.

The available occurrence reporting said that the cause was unknown. It also said that the water police would examine the circumstances. No official findings or investigation report were located during the review. The cause remains undetermined.

Sequence of events

Date/timeEvent
2026-08-07 10:20 localPrimula Seaways grounded and came bow-first against the bank in the Westbuitenhaven.
2026-08-07 10:25 localThe incident was reported; tugs, Rijkswaterstaat and the water police responded.
2026-08-07 12:45 localThree tugs refloated the ship and moved it away from the bank.

Investigation

Local reporting said that the water police was examining how the grounding occurred. No public official findings or dedicated investigation report had been located by 8 October 2026.

References