Wilson-Durness Vessel Reviews and Specifications

On January 23, 2020, the cargo vessel 'Pollux' ran aground while approaching Hönnsäter port in Hällekis, located on the shores of Vänern Lake. The ship was transporting a load of bentonite from Gibraltar when it deviated from the designated fairway, ending up lodged in a clay bank. Within hours of the incident, the Swedish Coast Guard responded with their patrol boat ‘KBV 492’ to assess the grounding situation. To aid in the recovery effort, additional resources were dispatched, including the Coast Guard vessel ‘KBV 051’ and the tugboat ‘Lidköping’ from the neighboring port of Lidköping. Upon its arrival, the tug attempted to tow the 'Pollux' free, but the ship only shifted a few meters before becoming stuck again. Towing operations ceased for the afternoon, necessitating further evaluation. A representative from the Swedish Transport Agency was subsequently transported to the stranded vessel by the ‘KBV 492’. The efforts to extricate the 'Pollux were not in vain; after another attempt, the tug successfully pulled the vessel to the quay at approximately 4:35 PM. Following the incident, the 'Pollux' departed from Hällekis on January 27, resuming its journey with a destination of Naestved, Denmark, and an expected arrival date of January 29. For more details and images, visit the Swedish news reports here: http://www.hallekis.com/xx200123a.htm and https://www.lidkopingsnytt.nu/2020/01/23/lastfartyg-pa-grund-utanfor-hallekis/

On November 3, 2023, at 10:30 a.m., the cargo ship Pollux set sail once again, continuing its journey through the canal toward Kolding. The incident that delayed its passage involved significant damage to the vessel's bow, which was visibly dented. Additionally, the lock gate experienced considerable impairment, characterized by two substantial dents beneath the waterline and destruction of several lighting fixtures. Due to these damages, the lock chamber was taken out of service for several hours. Fortunately, by 10:30 a.m., repairs had progressed sufficiently to allow for the reopening of the lock to maritime traffic. For further details, a German report featuring images can be found at this link: http://zeitungen.boyens-medien.de/aktuelle-nachrichten/zeitung/artikel/brunsbuettel-frachter-rammt-schleusentor-1.html. For additional photographs, visit: http://nok-schiffsbilder.de/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=24393, http://nok-schiffsbilder.de/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=24391, and http://nok-schiffsbilder.de/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=24392.

In the early hours of November 3, 2011, at 3:20 a.m., the vessel 'Pollux' experienced a serious incident, colliding with the inner gate of the small Northern Lock located in Brunsbuettel along the Kiel Canal. The collision caused extensive damage to the lock's gate, resulting in the immediate suspension of operations at the small lock. Following the incident, the 'Pollux' was secured at the railway station pilings in Brunsbuettel to facilitate thorough damage inspections. Preliminary investigations conducted by police revealed that the ship was navigating at an excessive speed upon its approach to the lock, having arrived from Ceuta.