Read Authentic Ratings for the Oraness

In the early hours of May 17, the tugs 'Stein' and 'Bülk' made their way into the Kiel Canal, undertaking a crucial operation involving the tanker 'Oraness'. During this time, several vessels, including the 'Geert K', 'Sirius', and 'Norderoog', were held up, awaiting transit through the canal. The tug 'Stein' secured itself to the bow of the 'Oraness', with 'Bülk' joining the operation shortly after 1 a.m. At this point, the 'Norderoog' was permitted to navigate past the scene of the incident. By 1:30 a.m., the tugs commenced maneuvering the tanker, skillfully turning it around and directing it towards the North Port in Kiel. Around 2 a.m., the 'Oraness' was successfully berthed at Voith Quay, specifically at berth 33, and the tugs were subsequently released from the operation. The tanker continued its journey, departing from Kiel at 7 p.m. on the same day, with its destination set for Moerdijk, expected to arrive on May 18. The fire on board was attributed to gear oil that had accidentally spilled and caught fire on the turbocharger's exhaust.

On the evening of May 16, 2017, the unladen tanker 'Oraness' encountered a significant fire while navigating westward in the Kiel Canal. The incident occurred at approximately 10:50 p.m. near Kiel-Suchsdorf as the vessel was making its way from Aarhus to Moerdijk. Just after passing the canal bridge at Levensau, the crew detected the fire in the engine room and promptly raised the alarm. Upon realizing the emergency, the master of the ship, alongside the pilot, swiftly brought the tanker to a halt and secured it at the northern bank's dolphins in Schwartenbek. The fire department from Kiel promptly responded, deploying teams from two stations, which were joined by the volunteer fire brigade from Suchsdorf. Using rubber boats, the firefighters boarded the 'Oraness' and assisted the crew in combating the blaze. Thanks to the quick deployment of powder extinguishers, the initial firefighting efforts proved effective. As the night progressed, emergency responders continued their efforts until about 1 a.m., meticulously searching for any lingering hotspots and removing sections of the engine room panels to ensure safety. During this critical time, the Kiel Canal was temporarily closed to all shipping traffic, except for emergency vessels essential to the firefighting operations. Notably, at 11:35 p.m., the tug 'Stein' announced its approach, followed by tugs 'Bülk' and 'Holtenau' shortly thereafter at 11:38 p.m. The Holtenau locks remained open, facilitating the entry of firefighting vessels into the waterway as emergency measures were put into place.