The accident of a Bundesheer ship could have been avoided

Vienna. (apa / dab) After the capsizing of a pioneer German Army boat on the Danube near Hainburg, the accident report was presented Wednesday. Thus, the disaster could have been avoided if the captain had reduced speed. As this did not happen, hundreds of liters of water per second penetrated the bow wave and caused the capsizing.

The accident occurred during the recruitment campaign "Girls' Camp" of the army. The pioneer boat with a sergeant as helmsman was occupied by 13 people – eight participants and five soldiers – when he capsized on 1 September.

Two women aged 18 and 22 had to be resuscitated. They had gone under the work and transport boat. According to an hourly commission protocol, 39 or 45 minutes after the capsizing of the boat, they were removed from the water – an air bubble had formed in the bow area.

The rescue had taken so long, as the 2.5-ton boat had to be lifted by a winch from the "Hainburg" maritime surveillance vessel, according to the final report. Because of the current and the strong swell, it would have been very dangerous to dive under the boat. At the request of parents, no additional information is provided on the health status of 18 and 22 year olds.

Hundreds of liters per second
Technically, the boat was fine. The events are well documented based on the video equipment available: The accident was caused by the driver 's driving style of the boat, as expert Hermann Steffan explains.

The boat has moved at an average speed in a bigger wave. Due to the higher arc load, he dipped into the tree, causing water to enter. That would be harmless in itself, so estimates the evaluator Steffan. If the captain had resumed the thrust, the bow would have reappeared and the water would have sank to the rear or would have been removed by the bilge pumps.

However, the boat operator did not reduce speed: as a result, the water penetrated deeper into the boat, resulting in several hundred liters per second. It was not long before the boat capsized.

From the point of view of the evaluator, there is no "driving error from the front". In the end, it was a "chain of factors". As part of the future training of the armed forces, the gas should be removed, "if the bow deteriorates".

The competent prosecutor, Korneuburg, decides the penal consequences. The 60-page survey report has already been sent to him.