Eco-Ponente Ship Details and Seafarer Feedback

On January 18, 2026, at approximately 11:30 a.m. UTC, the 'Eco Ponente' collided with a lock gate fender while navigating into the final operational lock of the Kiel Canal in Kiel. The vessel was en route from Riga to Rotterdam when it partially dislodged the fender from its mooring. Fortunately, the 'Eco Ponente' only emerged with minor scratches on its hull. Following the incident, the local water police initiated an investigation to ascertain the circumstances behind the collision. After a brief assessment, the ship was cleared to continue its journey at 12:30 p.m. UTC and successfully reached the Hutchison ECT Delta Terminal in Rotterdam's Amazone Port by 10:30 p.m. UTC on January 19. The Water and Shipping Authority responsible for the Kiel Canal expressed intentions to swiftly repair the damaged lock infrastructure utilizing its resources. This incident followed closely on the heels of an earlier mishap involving another vessel of the X-Press Feeders Group, the 'Eco Ostro' (IMO: 9959565), which had struck the opposite chamber of the North lock on January 17, resulting in damage to the brickwork and similar superficial damage to its hull.