Croatian Army Aids in Rescue of Ancient Roman Ship Replica from Drava River

A remarkable rescue operation involving the Croatian Army has saved a replica of an ancient Roman river vessel, the Danuvina Alacris, from potential destruction in the Drava River. The ship, crucial to a European project studying life in the Roman Empire, became stranded on a sandbar due to critically low water levels, threatening its delicate wooden structure.

Eighteen members of the Croatian Army's engineering battalions were deployed for the complex mission. They engineered special sliding "skis" to facilitate the ship's movement towards deeper water. Additionally, the engineering regiment provided a tugboat to assist in towing the vessel once it was refloated. The operation also required continuous pumping of water from the ship's porous wooden hull, a task supported by the Osijek Public Firefighting Unit.

The replica, measuring 18 meters long, is based on an archaeological find from Germany. Its successful extraction was particularly challenging due to its waterlogged state, which significantly increased its weight and the risk of sinking. After being carefully launched back into the Drava, the ship was moved to the Tranzit port in Nemetin.

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The Croatian Army provided support to the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg from the Federal Republic of Germany and participated with its engineering capabilities in the demanding operation of extracting and rescuing the ship.

From there, a crane loaded the vessel onto a transport vehicle for its return journey to Germany, arranged by the German side. This joint effort highlights the strong partnership between Croatia and Germany and showcases the Croatian Army's engineering capabilities in supporting civilian institutions during demanding situations.

The successful recovery of the Danuvina Alacris not only preserves a valuable historical replica but also underscores the effective collaboration and specialized skills available within the Croatian military.

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The rescue was particularly demanding due to the condition of the ship's construction itself. It is a porous wooden structure that filled with water after being launched, which further weighed down the ship and threatened it with sinking.