Cargo ship Baltic Arrow stuck in River Nene while carrying timber to Wisbech port

In Cambridgeshire, the Baltic Arrow, an 80-meter long cargo ship carrying timber, encountered a grounding incident in the River Nene while en-route to Wisbech. The ship, built in 2002 and sailing under the flag of St Kitts and Nevis, had six crew members and two local pilots on board. Fortunately, there were no injuries or damages reported. The grounding was attributed to the tide going out while part of the vessel was in contact with the bank, reminiscent of the 2021 Suez Canal blockage caused by the Ever Given. The incident in Cambridgeshire drew parallels to the high-profile event in the Suez Canal last year when the Ever Given, a massive 200,000-ton cargo ship, blocked the global shipping lane for several days. Wisbech port officials stated that the plan was to wait for the next high water to free the Baltic Arrow with additional tug assistance and safely guide it into the port for unloading. They assured that the soft and sludgy river bed posed no ongoing issues as the vessel was designed to safely ground, emphasizing that all berths at Wisbech port are equipped for such situations. A spokesperson for Wisbech port highlighted the rarity of such incidents at the port and mentioned that a full investigation would be conducted to determine the cause of the grounding. They expressed optimism about freeing the vessel that evening and proceeding with the unloading process as usual. The statement reassured that the situation was under control, emphasizing the safety measures in place to handle vessels during low water levels. The focus remained on ensuring the safe navigation of the Baltic Arrow into Wisbech Port following the grounding incident.