Cruise Ship Crashes Into Concrete Wall on River Danube, Injuring 17 Passengers in Austria

On the night of March 29, a Bulgarian cruise ship with over 140 passengers crashed into a concrete wall along the River Danube in Aschach an der Donau, Austria. The incident resulted in 11 people being hospitalized and an additional 6 sustaining less serious injuries.

Sequence of Events

The ship had initiated its journey from Passau, a German city on the Austrian border. However, when exiting the lock chamber further down the river, the ship experienced a sudden loss of maneuverability, causing its right bow and left aft to collide with the lock walls. The second-in-command of the ship promptly activated the emergency switch, allowing the electronics to restart and enabling the ship to navigate out of the lock.

Aftermath and Investigation

After the collision, the ship was berthed at the quay wall, and emergency services were alerted. An Austrian police statement suggested that the mishap was linked to a malfunction in the ship's electronics. However, after the emergency switch was reset, the electronics resumed working, permitting the ship to resume its journey towards Linz, Austria.

Similar Incidents

This occurrence echoes a recent event where the container ship Dali collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. The ship experienced a brief power outage, which led to the bridge's collapse and tragically claimed the lives of six construction workers.

Historical Context

The Danube has witnessed significant tragedies in the past. In 2023, a cruise boat disaster resulted in the death of 25 South Korean tourists and two crew members. The ship's captain was subsequently sentenced to a five-year prison term in Hungary for his involvement in the accident.

About River Danube

The River Danube ranks as Europe's second-largest river and encompasses Central and Southeastern Europe, flowing from the Black Forest south into the Black Sea. It remains a popular destination for cruises, attracting a large number of tourists annually.