A Bulgarian cruise ship, with over 140 passengers on board, collided with a concrete wall along the River Danube in Austria.
Late on March 29, there was an incident in the northern Austrian town of Aschach an der Donau, according to local police.
A total of eleven individuals sustained injuries in the accident and were promptly transported to the hospital for medical attention. Additionally, six others experienced less severe injuries which did not necessitate hospitalization.
The ship embarked from Passau, a German city situated on the Austrian border. However, as it exited the lock chamber, it unexpectedly lost its maneuverability. The right bow and left aft of the ship collided with the lock walls, causing substantial damage.
During the crash, the ship’s second-in-command, who had been operating the helm, swiftly pressed the emergency switch, prompting the electronics to restart. Consequently, he successfully navigated the ship out of the lock.
Emergency services were notified after the ship was later docked at the quay wall.
It remains unclear what exactly caused the temporary loss of steering. However, despite this setback, the ship managed to carry on with its journey towards Linz, Austria.
According to a statement from the Austrian police, the collision was attributed to a malfunction in the ship’s electronics.
According to the police statement, after the ship crashed, the second captain, who was operating the helm, quickly activated the emergency switch. As a result, the ship’s electronics rebooted, allowing him to successfully navigate the ship out of the lock.
The ship was able to continue its journey after the emergency switch was reset, which led to the electronics working again.
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Earlier this week, a tragic incident occurred when a container ship collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. As a result of this collision, a section of the 1.6-mile-long bridge collapsed, leading to the devastating loss of six construction workers’ lives.
According to officials, the Dali container ship experienced a brief power outage lasting only one minute and three seconds as it neared the bridge. This temporary loss of power, as reported by Sky News, unfortunately made the collision inevitable.
In 2023, the Danube witnessed its most devastating disaster in over fifty years when a cruise boat collided with and caused the sinking of a smaller boat. This tragic incident resulted in the loss of the lives of 25 South Korean tourists and two crew members. The captain, held responsible for his involvement in the accident, was sentenced to five years in prison in Hungary.
The River Danube, Europe’s second-largest river, meanders through Central and Southeastern Europe, stretching from the Black Forest to the Black Sea. Its picturesque route captivates numerous tourists annually, who flock to enjoy unforgettable experiences aboard cruise ships traversing its waters.