2023-12-23 15:03:00
We narrowly avoided tragedy on June 3 at the Plan Incliné de Ronquières where the door of the only ferry still in operation collapsed while a boat was sailing on it. These events caused a halt to river navigation on the Brussels-Charleroi canal as well as strong reactions in the ranks of local elected officials. The site was completely shut down for several weeks, the operation to remove the damaged door requiring the deployment of a special crane.
Many months after the incidents, MP François Desquesnes returned to these events. “Last October, I questioned Minister Henry about the first results of the independent investigation concerning the accident which took place on the Ronquières Inclined Plane. I encouraged him to launch an independent investigation, to which he agreed. Last October, he announced that the results would soon be revealed. In this month of December, two months after my last intervention, I wanted to know more about these long-awaited results”, indicates François Desquesnes, Walloon MP (Les Engagés).
The lack of control procedures for works of art in Wallonia also caused the Sonegian MP to react. The minister then indicated that inspections would be established to prevent similar events from happening again in the future. A point to which the minister also returned in committee this week.
Incident at the Ronquières Inclined Plan: “we came close to a real catastrophe”
The interim analysis report on the Ronquières Inclined Plan ferry accident finally arrived in the hands of the minister. “After an analysis of the operation of the ferry door of the Plan Incliné de Ronquières, a list containing the possible causes of the breakage of the cables was established. Preliminary calculations show that cable fatigue surely played an important role in its rupture. A more in-depth analysis will be carried out to get even closer to the real causes of this rupture,” explains Minister Henry (Ecolo).
The works of art will be maintained
The company consulted also provided a list of suggestions for improving cable maintenance management which also needs to be refined. “I will request my services to have all these reports in the first quarter of 2024,” adds the minister. “As far as the maintenance of other structures in Wallonia is concerned, the design office is only at the beginning of its mission, having started in eastern Wallonia. It’s a lot of work as there are so many works. The report is therefore not yet available.”
The fatigue of the cables which is, for François Desquesnes, “linked to the lack of maintenance of them. After going there, I was able to discuss with SPW MI officials who complain about the recurring underfunding of electromechanical maintenance means on the river network. I can only encourage the minister to make a budgetary effort to ensure the good condition and safety of Wallonia’s structures,” concludes François Desquesnes.
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