BRATISLAVA, April 14, (WEBNOVINY) — Damaged German cargo ship Bavaria, which collided with river cruise ship Victoria at Hrusov Dam on the Danube, is being prepared for towing as of this Thursday afternoon. The ship was heavily damaged by the collision. The 1,100 tons of corn that it was transporting should be transferred to another ship and then towed to a dock in Bratislava, where Bavaria will be repaired.
The collision, which occurred this Wednesday early morning, aroused several questions in connection with the salvage works. The collision occurred at 1.50 a.m., however, the nation-wide Integrated Rescue System was only informed at approximately 7.35 a.m. According to Katarina Zbudilova of the State Navigation Administration (SVP), both captains originally reported only a minor incident which did not require presence of emergency services.
According to the SME daily, Interior Minister Daniel Lipsic has criticized the fact that national emergency services were contacted too late. The incident was later re-qualified as serious and is being investigated by police.
Following accusations of a breach of law by not informing the Integrated Emergency System after the collision, SVP representatives claim to have violated no laws and behaved in accordance with the law on inland navigation. SVP media relations manager Pavol Machava said that they prevented an ecological catastrophe by providing their vessels for pumping out fuel and waste from Bavaria. They also evacuated the Victoria passengers to safety with their own means. Private rescue system Complex Central Emergency System Gabcikovo participated in the rescue works. “We underscore that no legal act demands the operator of a waterway to inform the Integrated Emergency Service,” stated Machava.
However, Environment Minister Jozsef Nagy does not consider eventual cancellation of the contract with the Complex Central Emergency System effective. “The state has provided hundreds of millions of Slovak crowns to this organization to build a top-ranking rescue system. The contract is valid; they in fact deal with such problems for free,” explained Nagy.
SITA