The inland vessel Courage broke on Wednesday morning while loading sand at an excavation area on the Waal river near Deest in the Netherlands.
The bow and the stern were still visible above the water while the middle part of the vessel was completely under water. Videos and photos of the vessel show that the stern was continuing to sink.
The Dutch Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management or Rijkswaterstaat has placed oil booms to prevent pollution although initial reports indicate that a leak was not detected.
Rijkswaterstaat told local media that the vessel was not hindering shipping lanes and that the crew managed to escape unharmed after the ship broke. A patrol boat and tug also arrived at the scene.
The cause of the incident is unknown at this time. The Courage is a 110-meter-long and 11.50-meter-wide inland vessel sailing under the Belgian flag.
