The main navigation channel of the Rhine blocked by two sunken boats will remain closed at least until the beginning of next week a water authority spokesman said today. Karlsruhe water authorities said a queue of about 70 ships had formed between the towns of Speyer and Iffezheim but most shipping companies had unloaded cargoes and were using alternative means of transport. Heinz-Josef Recker of the Mannheim water authority said two floating cranes would make a fresh attempt to raise the sunken tug and its lighter after an unsuccessful try on Friday. The tug Orinoko hit a railway bridge last Tuesday and sank with a cargo of 3500 tonnes of gravel on board. Before the accident about 100 ships a day sailed under the bridge.
BLOCKED RHINE NAVIGATION CHANNEL REMAINS CLOSED