Roman ship replica rescued from Drava River with Croatian Army’s help

A replica of the ancient Roman river ship Danuvina Alacris was safely delivered to Germany on Friday morning following a demanding rescue operation on the Drava River.

The ship became stranded on a sandbank due to extremely low water levels, creating a serious risk of structural damage and collapse.

The Croatian Army supported the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg in the operation, using its engineering expertise and equipment to help recover the vessel.

Eighteen Croatian Army personnel took part, including 12 members of the Engineering Battalion of the Guards Armored-Mechanized Brigade and six members of the Engineering Regiment.

Army engineers built special sliding “skis” that allowed the ship to be moved toward the water. The Engineering Regiment also provided a tugboat to the River Ship Company in Osijek to tow the vessel once it was launched.

The rescue was particularly challenging because of the condition of the ship’s wooden structure. The porous wood absorbed water once the vessel was returned to the river, making it significantly heavier and creating a risk that it could sink. Large amounts of water therefore had to be continuously pumped from the ship to keep it afloat. Members of the Osijek Public Fire Department assisted with the pumping operation.

Once launched into the Drava, the ship was transported to the transit port in Nemetin, where it was loaded onto a transport vehicle with the help of a crane. The German side provided the equipment needed for the recovery and transport and organized the vessel’s return to Germany.

The Danuvina Alacris replica is 18 meters long and was modeled on an archaeologically discovered Roman river ship found in Germany. It is part of a European project exploring life and everyday life during the Roman Empire.

The operation was described as another example of cooperation and partnership between Croatia and Germany, as well as a demonstration of the Croatian Army’s ability to use its expertise, equipment and engineering capabilities to support civilian institutions and partners in demanding situations.