The tanker is lying on its side

On the Rhine at Loreley (Rhein-Lahn-Kreis) is in the early morning around 5.00 clock a tanker capsized. The sulfuric acid loaded does not appear to have escaped. So far, only two of the four on board are rescued crew members.

A police spokesman said the two men pulled from the water were taken to a hospital.  They go relatively well. The search for the two other crew members would last, said the Water and Shipping Authority of Bingen. Among other things, a helicopter with a thermal imaging camera looking for missing persons. The water temperature in the Rhine is at an air temperature of about twelve degrees, according to the Binger water and shipping center just 4.1 degrees.

How many forces, including maritime police and firefighters are on the ground was not to learn at first. It is also unclear what country are from the four crew members. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Roger Lewentz said all appointments and went to the accident site, said a ministry spokesman. He wanted to give the spot an overview of the situation.

 The 110 meter long ship is from the early morning on its side in the amount of St. Goar near Lorelei rock on the Rhine.It is loaded with 2,400 tons of sulfuric acid. The ship had been secured, although not yet, but are "current fair". According to police, no sulfuric acid is withdrawn.There were a "very good double-hulled ship.

Why the tanker accident is still unclear. "We can not explain how the tanker ship could capsize. When the water level I do not know how it really could go anywhere," said Joerg Hitzelberger from the Water Police Office in Mainz.

The German ship "Waldhof" was way down the Rhine, it had charged the sulfuric acid in Ludwigshafen. After the accident the boat trip on the Rhine between Bingen and Bad Salty was blocked immediately.

Sulphuric acid is one of the most aggressive acids and is one of the most important precursors for the chemical industry. It is used for example for the manufacture of fertilizers, detergents, drugs and explosives. The acid developed in conjunction with water heating.At higher concentrations, they can be destroyed by charring many organic substances, such as skin, wood, or sugar.