Challenges and Investigations Surrounding the River-Drone-5 Amid Incidents

On July 2, 2026, River-Drone-5, an innovative inland vessel from the River Drone series, was involved in an allision with the Spijkenisse Bridge while navigating the Oude Maas waterway. This incident took place shortly before 10 a.m., with the ship sustaining damage to at least one of its containers and the bridge itself. Fortunately, neither shipping nor road traffic disruptions were reported. The vessel was conducting a routine journey from Hans Weert to the Maasvlakte 2 area when it collided with the bridge, prompting immediate assessment by Rijkswaterstaat and the Port Authority. Two investigators from the Dutch Safety Board (OVV) were dispatched to the scene as part of a broader thematic investigation into such incidents involving inland vessels and bridges or locks, which the Board announced in 2025.

The River-Drone-5, which boasts diesel-electric propulsion and is designed for remote operation, is part of a series that entered service between 2023 and 2024, emphasizing sustainability and automation in inland shipping. The vessel was deemed too high for safe passage under the Spijkenisse Bridge, necessitating thorough inspections of both the bridge and the ship to determine the extent of the damage and to understand the circumstances surrounding the collision.

This isn't the first time River-Drone-5 has faced issues; in December 2024, the ship was involved in a collision with the container ship 'Containerships VIII' while en route from Rotterdam to the Gent Canal. That incident led to several empty containers falling into the water and washing ashore in Maassluis, with emergency operations required to recover them.

The safety protocols and operational guidelines for the River-Drone-5 and similar vessels will likely face increased scrutiny following these incidents. As the maritime industry moves towards more automated and remote-controlled vessels, the integration of safety measures becomes paramount to prevent future occurrences of such allisions and collisions. The ongoing investigations into both incidents will inform future practices and regulations as stakeholders aim to enhance navigational safety on inland waterways.