Rotterdam, Netherlands— Two cargo ships collided at around 2:45 a.m. on October 18 on the Nieuwe Waterweg near Rotterdam, killing one crew member who was thrown overboard and drowned.
The collision involved a 120-meter container feeder and a smaller bulk carrier inbound from the North Sea. Both were under pilot guidance. Visibility was poor. Traffic in the waterway was heavy for that hour.
Port authorities said the smaller vessel took a sharp impact on its starboard side. The hull breached. Water flooded the engine compartment. The crew of seven scrambled to the deck. One man went missing during the evacuation.
"We had a mayday at 02:47. One vessel reported taking water and a man overboard," a Port of Rotterdam spokesperson said. "Rescue boats were on scene within 12 minutes."
Search teams used sonar and searchlights. The body was recovered at 5:30 a.m. about 400 meters downstream, caught against a mooring dolphin. The victim was a 38-year-old Filipino crew member. His name has not been released pending family notification.
The larger ship suffered bow damage but remained seaworthy. Its crew was uninjured. Both vessels were ordered to anchor at Waalhaven for inspection. The waterway was closed for three hours, causing a backlog of six inbound ships.
Investigators from the Dutch Safety Board and the Netherlands Shipping Inspectorate boarded both ships by dawn. They are reviewing AIS data, bridge recordings, and pilot communications. Early focus is on miscommunication during overtaking.
Rotterdam is Europe's busiest port. Close-quarters maneuvers are routine, but margins are thin. Pilots have warned for months about increased pressure on the Waterweg during overnight transits.
Both shipping companies issued short statements confirming cooperation with authorities. The bulk carrier is listed as taking on minor pollution from fuel leakage, contained by booms.
The investigation continues. Port traffic has resumed under heightened monitoring.
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