Overview

• On July 10, the Wasserschutzpolizei secured a safety operation at Düsseldorf’s Oberkasseler Bridge and closed the Rhine to traffic.
• Despite the ban, one captain radioed his intention to proceed and piloted a 100-meter cargo ship downstream through the police barrier, forcing smaller patrol and rescue boats to dodge its wake.
• A second captain in a pusher-barge also breached the closure and, alongside another skipper, verbally abused officers over the radio.
• No collisions were reported but rescue and police vessels in much smaller boats were significantly endangered by waves and close maneuvers from the larger ships.
• While unable to stop the vessels on the water, authorities have identified the ships’ owners and launched criminal investigations against the captains.