Passenger Ship Collides with Sailing Yacht in German Harbor After Steering Failure

An incident occurred in the harbor of Wiek, located on the German island of Rügen, when a passenger ship collided with a moored sailing yacht. The accident took place as the passenger ship was attempting to depart from its berth.

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No one was injured, as the water police reported.

According to the water police, the passenger ship's primary steering control system failed during the departure maneuver. Compounding the issue, the emergency rudder also proved to be inoperable. In an attempt to regain control and return the vessel to its mooring using only its main engines, the ship inadvertently struck the sailing yacht, which was secured in the northern part of the harbor.

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According to current findings, the steering control of the passenger ship failed during departure.

Fortunately, no individuals sustained any injuries as a result of the collision. However, the sailing yacht suffered significant damage, with approximately ten meters of its hull affected. Additionally, two fenders belonging to the harbor facility were damaged in the incident. The passenger ship itself sustained only minor cosmetic damage, primarily paint scuffing.

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Even the emergency rudder did not function, according to the information.

Preliminary investigations suggest that a technical defect, possibly related to the electrical power supply, may have caused the steering system failure. The water police in Stralsund and Sassnitz are currently conducting a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident.

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The sailing yacht was damaged over a length of about ten meters.