Barge Sinks Near Umeå

A barge loaded with vehicles, telephone poles, and 1,000 liters of diesel capsized between Umeå and Holmön on Tuesday morning. The sea rescue service was alerted but could not prevent the cargo from sinking.

– It's terrible, says Patrick Trädgårdh from the Sea Rescue Society.

The alarm about a distressed vessel with three people on board came at 3:30 AM on Tuesday.

When the sea rescue team arrived, they found a customs vessel towing a heavily loaded barge.

Rescuer Anders Trädgårdh, who was part of the response, described the situation as chaotic.

– The barge somehow listed during the night, and water washed over the deck. The water flooded the barge's ventilation hatches, causing it to fill with water.

To salvage the situation, the rescuers decided to tow the barge towards land. However, it listed further, tipped 180 degrees, and began to sink.

– So it went wrong.

Could Only Watch

The sea rescue's mission during accidents is to save lives at sea. The three people on the customs vessel were never in danger, so the rescuers could only watch as everything sank.

– We were at a standstill. We could only monitor and ensure no one got hurt.

Anders Trädgårdh says they alerted the coast guard for assistance in lifting the cargo but were told they were occupied elsewhere.

Transported Telephone Poles and 1,000 Liters of Diesel

The barge's cargo included a military vehicle, another vehicle, numerous telephone poles, and two tanks filled with approximately 1,000 liters of diesel.

Following the incident, Patrick Trädgårdh is particularly concerned about the large amount of diesel that now risks leaking into the strait.

– It's very unfortunate. It's terrible for the environment if so much diesel leaks. It's dreadful.

One of the coast guard's tasks as a maritime rescue service is to perform environmental rescue during hazardous substance spills.

Coast Guard on the Way

The coast guard announced on Tuesday evening that they are heading towards Holmsund to manage the spill on-site. They expect to be at the accident site during the night into Wednesday.

– We'll see what we can do; it depends on the situation on-site, says rescue leader Anna Törnquist from the coast guard.

She emphasizes that it is not yet clear if there has been a significant diesel spill.

– Our task is to prevent any spill before it reaches the water.