The Kiel Canal in Germany was closed on 28th October following a collision between the 116m long and 5,831gt/200 built gas carrier Coral Ivory and the 100m long coastal freighter Siderfly. The 2,882gt/1985 built Siderfly was on her way from Brunsbüttel to Antwerp while the Coral Ivory had just left a berth near Brunsbüttel bound for Uusikaupunki in Finland when the collision occurred at around 03.00 local time. After swinging back out in to the canal the AIS track for the Coral Ivory indicated that she was caught by a strong gust of wind that contributed to the collision.

The collision occurred just a few miles past the canal locks at Brunsbüttel, located in northern Germany at the mouth of the Elbe river. The impact tore two large holes in the port side of the Siderfly, causing the vessel to list heavily against an embankment of the canal. The Coral Ivory sustained little to no damage in the collision and the ship proceeded to the port of Brunsbüttel. No injuries were reported amongst the 28 total crewmembers of both vessels.

The canal remained open whilst the ship was stabilised but then closed for three days as crews worked to secure the Siderfly and only reopened on 31st October to vessels less than 140 metres in length and 17 metres wide. Oil and diesel was pumped off the ship, her cargo of fertilizer was transferred to barges and the Siderfly was secured to the canal embankment by earth moving equipment. Divers were then to attempt to patch the hull damage before the salvage efforts could be completed.