On the morning of January 7, 2025, a vessel with a barge ran aground at the entrance of the Julianakanaal, causing the barge to sink. This has resulted in a complete blockade of the waterway. Rijkswaterstaat is working on a resolution.

The barge was carrying 1400 tons of limestone, which need salvaging. The vessel itself remains intact, and the crew is safe. Due to the high water flow, the recovery is challenging.

The limestone will be offloaded into a crane vessel to refloat the sunken barge near Maastricht. An existing crane ship, named De Prins 6, was already nearby, expediting the process.

Full Blockage of Maas between Limmel and Ternaaien

The increased flow on the Maas complicates operations. The waterway remains closed indefinitely, though progress continues steadily.