A complaint has been filed against the captain of the Belgian ship which caused a tidal wave on the Dutch beach Vlissingen last Sunday evening, according to local media reports.
The Joint Nautical Authority in the Netherlands and Flanders, (GNA), has filed a complaint against the captain of the Bonny River, a Belgian ship which caused a tidal wave resulting in three people being hospitalised.
The ship, sailing close to the shore, was going at a speed of 16 knots (more than 30 kilometres per hour), which is too fast, according to the GNA.
While all ships must keep as much distance as possible from the beach to avoid endangering bathers or causing a suction effect, the Bonny River was sailing too close to the shore, the GNA found.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9PZ7QVPAnk#action=share
"It is often the case that a large wave is caused by a large ship, but this one was really heavy. A large number of people were dragged along," said Rien Schrier, who lives on the boulevard of the Badstrand in Vlissingen and captured footage of the incident.
Seven people in total were reportedly dragged into the sea by the powerful wave, but most were able to return to the coast by themselves.
One person and two children aged 3 and 5 were hospitalised for check-ups after the large wave dragged them into the waters of the North Sea.
Madeleine Fletcher
The Brussels Times
