A cargo vessel struck a bridge on a Belgian canal, completely destroying its wheelhouse and injuring the skipper as he attempted to escape.
The incident occurred on the morning of November 7, at the Centrumbrug bridge over the Roeselare–Leie Canal in Izegem, Belgium. According to local broadcaster Focus en WTV, the skipper jumped from the wheelhouse as the vessel approached the bridge, sustaining injuries during his escape.
Witnesses standing on the bridge described seeing the skipper jump to safety shortly before the collision. He was subsequently transported by ambulance to a hospital for treatment, while the other crew members remained unharmed.
The impact completely destroyed the wheelhouse. However, Geert Weymeis of De Vlaamse Waterweg, the Flemish waterway authority, confirmed that the bridge had suffered no structural damage and did not need to be closed to traffic.
Following the collision, another crew member managed to maneuver the damaged vessel backward, away from the bridge. A second cargo vessel then assisted by pushing it toward the canal bank, allowing it to berth at Zuidkaai.
As stated, additional maritime reporting identified the vessel as the inland tank barge Vol...