Read Authentic Ratings for the Rix-Mariner

On May 18, 2026, the Northern Lock of the Kiel Canal in Kiel was shut down for nearly six hours due to an oil spill caused by the freighter 'Rix Mariner'. At approximately 1:40 p.m., maritime authorities discovered a slick of oily liquid on the lock chamber water shortly after the vessel had docked. With four ships inside the lock at the time, officials utilized a process of elimination to identify the source of the pollution, confirming it was indeed the 'Rix Mariner'. While the specific type of pollutant remained undetermined, the spill spread over an area measuring around 60 by 50 meters at the stern of the vessel. First responders, including the Kiel fire brigade and representatives from the State Agency for Coastal Protection, swiftly arrived at the scene to assess the situation. After a thorough evaluation, they concluded that the volume of spilled oil did not necessitate immediate intervention, allowing the lock to resume operations shortly after 7 p.m. As a result, three of the four vessels were permitted to continue westward towards Brunsbüttel. However, the 'Rix Mariner' was directed to the North Harbour, where it docked at the Voith Quay at 5:10 p.m. UTC for detailed investigations into the oil leak. An oil boom was deployed around the vessel's stern to contain any further spillage. In tandem with these efforts, officers from the local water police station opened a criminal investigation into the incident, focusing on potential water pollution violations. The 'Rix Mariner' is currently on hold, unable to resume its journey from Liepaja to Amsterdam until the source of the leak is fixed. As of May 20, the freighter remains stationary while the lock itself did not incur any damage during the incident. During the closure, the southern lock provided an alternative route for other shipping traffic. Photos of the incident can be found at: https://www.forum-schiff.de/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?p=231052#p231052.