Ships in peril – The bridge as an obstacle

The Rhine is one of Europe’s most important waterways and trade routes. For centuries, large convoys of tied-together rafts were landing in Basel. However, sandbanks and shoals made the journey treacherous. It was not until the 19th century that locks, canals and new port facilities began to provide greater safety. The year 1904 marked the start of modern Rhine navigation with regular motorised traffic. One problem remains though: the low clearance height of the Middle Bridge. In the second half of the 20th century, it became a bottleneck for the ever-larger cargo ships, leading to a series of dramatic accidents. Whenever a freighter crashes into the bridge, as the Corona did in 1984, the whole city holds its breath.

 

Bildquelle: KEYSTONE/Str.

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