Capella Ship Details and Seafarer Feedback

The Central Command for Maritime Emergencies based in Cuxhaven has officially concluded its operational oversight of the recent oil spill incident resulting from the collision between the vessels 'Coastal Legend' and 'Capella.' This transition occurred on July 25 at 9 a.m., when control was handed over to the City of Cuxhaven, which now takes on the role of the Lower Water Authority. Following the change in oversight, personnel from the Federal Agency for Technical Relief resumed their response efforts early in the day. While substantial clean-up has been achieved, small traces of oil continue to linger in the water, prompting the retention of oil booms in the port basin. To date, approximately 240 cubic metres of the oil-water mixture have been successfully removed from the affected area. Water quality evaluations were initiated on July 28 to further assess the situation. Although the precise volume of marine diesel that leaked from the offshore supply vessel remains uncertain, initial estimates range between six to twelve cubic metres. Investigative findings suggest that the collision was largely attributed to a navigational error made by the captain of the 'Capella,' with police reports indicating no initial signs of technical failure on either vessel. The 'Coastal Legend' was securely positioned at Empting Drydock as of July 27 and is expected to remain there as of July 29.

On July 24, emergency crews from the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) in Cuxhaven and Bremerhaven diligently worked to contain a marine diesel oil leak from the damaged vessel 'Coastal Legend'. Their efforts yielded positive results, with a marked reduction in the oil slick by the afternoon. The tug was subsequently able to navigate to a designated berth in the New Fishing Harbour under its own power. Skilled divers had previously sealed the hull of 'Coastal Legend' temporarily. During the vessel's transit, the emergency team strategically opened the oil boom that had encircled it, allowing safe passage. They received assistance from the port operator Niedersachsen Ports' work vessel 'Steubenhöft' and the tug 'Wulf 7', facilitating an efficient move away from the incident site, which significantly streamlined the ongoing clean-up operations. The Central Command for Maritime Emergencies, overseeing the entire operation, expressed optimism regarding the improvement of the situation. The following day, July 25, the vessel 'Capella' departed from Cuxhaven, heading towards Bremen to continue its scheduled activities.

On the morning of July 23, 2025, a troubling oil spill incident occurred in Cuxhaven when the offshore supply vessel 'Coastal Legend' (IMO: 9102887) was struck by the incoming tug 'Capella', which was arriving from Bremerhaven. This collision took place while 'Coastal Legend' was docked at the Lübbert Quay in Cuxhaven’s outer port at coordinates 53° 52' N 008° 43' E, resulting in the spillage of over six cubic meters of marine diesel oil. The allision caused an 80-centimeter breach in the diesel tank located at the stern of the 'Coastal Legend'. In response, the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) along with the Cuxhaven Fire Department swiftly sprang into action by deploying oil booms to contain the spread of the fuel. Emergency teams utilized skimmers to extract the oil from the water's surface, while aerial surveillance was conducted by the Central Command for Maritime Emergencies (CEM), using a Do 228 reconnaissance aircraft. Further efforts included the deployment of the oil recovery vessel 'Knechtsand' (IMO: 9086916) to assist in the containment and recovery operations. Thankfully, shipping operations along the Elbe River remained unimpacted by this incident, and no crew injuries were reported. The CEM took charge of managing the response efforts, involving personnel from the Cuxhaven Water Police, the local fire department, and the THW. Immediate remedial actions commenced, leading to the extraction of around 70 cubic meters of an oil-water mixture into a collection tank managed by the THW, with further transfers being made to the bunker vessel 'Herta' (MMSI: 211564050). In tandem with these recovery efforts, divers were deployed to secure the damaged tank of the 'Coastal Legend' and seal the leak. For ongoing coverage and images of the incident, visit [this link](https://www.havariekommando.de/SharedDocs/Aktuelles/DE/2025/20250723_GVU_COASTAL_LEGEND.html?nn=678472).