Accident on the Danube

Cruise ship crashes into wall in Upper Austria

The ship was traveling from Passau (Bavaria) in the direction of Linz when it apparently became temporarily unable to maneuver.

(Bild: APA/TEAM FOTOKERSCHI / MARTIN SCHARINGER)

There was a major emergency on the Danube in Upper Austria on Saturday night. A Bulgarian cruise ship carrying 142 passengers crashed into a concrete wall in the lock area in Aschach an der Donau (Eferding district). Eleven people were taken to hospital and a further six signed a lapel. 

The Bulgarian ship, which was mainly carrying German passengers, was traveling from Passau (Bavaria) towards Budapest when it apparently became temporarily unable to maneuver at the Aschach an der Donau power station (Upper Austria). When leaving the lock chamber, it was suddenly unable to steer and crashed into the lock wall with the right bow and the left rear side of the ship. 

Flying plates
Objects on board toppled over and were thrown around. Many passengers were having dinner in the dining room and some fell off their chairs due to the violent jolts. Others suffered cuts from broken crockery and glasses.

The ship was en route from Passau (Bavaria) to Linz when it apparently became temporarily unable to maneuver.

(Bild: APA/TEAM FOTOKERSCHI / MARTIN SCHARINGER)

Emergency switch pressed
The 2nd captain, who was at the helm at the time, reacted promptly. He immediately pressed the emergency switch, whereupon the electronics kicked in again and he was able to steer the cruise ship out of the lock. He then moored at the quay wall and alerted the emergency services and the lock supervisor.

Large-scale operation
A large contingent of rescue workers and police were called to the scene of the accident. The Red Cross, Samaritans, fire department, police and water police were deployed. Firefighters illuminated the scene of the accident and supported the paramedics in treating and removing the injured.

The biggest challenge was to find out how many people were injured. We carried out triage on board.

Bezirksrettungschef Philipp Wiatschka (38)

"16 ambulances and an emergency doctor were ordered to the scene of the accident. Firefighters illuminated the impassable terrain," explains District Rescue Chief Philipp Wiatschka. Fortunately, there was no panic on board. "We separated the passengers on the ship into injured and uninjured and transported them to hospitals in Wels and Linz."

Emergency on another ship too
During the operation, the rescue team received an emergency call from a second ship. Wiatschka: "A passenger on this ship had suffered a heart attack and the rescue chain worked perfectly."

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Fotos

A total of eleven slightly injured passengers from the Bulgarian cruise ship were taken to hospital, and six crew members signed a lapel. After an inspection of the ship and consultation by the ship's superintendent with the Supreme Shipping Authority, it was found that the electronics were working again after the emergency switch was reset.

Onward journey to Linz
For this reason, the ship was able to continue its journey to Linz. However, it is still a mystery why the electronics were able to fail at short notice; the second captain has already been questioned. The investigations by the police and the shipping inspectorate have not yet been completed.

No leaks
There was no damage to the lock substance - only slight material damage in the form of concrete abrasion. Although there was visible sheet metal damage to the sides of the ship itself, there was apparently no leak. The voyage could therefore be continued safely.