River Cruise Ship Strikes Bridge in Germany

A river cruise ship struck a bridge in Germany Tuesday night local time.

A representative of Swiss river cruise line Scylla tells Travel Agent that the ship, the Swiss Crystal, has since been released by authorities and has sailed to a shipyard in the Netherlands. Three injured guests remain in the hospital for medical treatment, while an injured crew member has since been released.

The accident took place in Duisburg, Germany, when the ship hit a supporting pillar for a motorway bridge, injuring at least 25 people, Deutsche Welle reports. Another nearby ship helped take the passengers to safety, while a number of fire department boats also provided assistance. The tour operator who had chartered the vessel offered passengers the chance to complete their journey in a replacement ship, or to opt for hotel accommodation for the night before being transported back home.

Scylla said that a technical failure has been ruled out as a potential cause of the accident. Instead, authorities believe the accident was caused by human error. A further investigation is pending.

Scylla is a Swiss river cruise line with a fleet of 28 ships offering cruises on the Rhine, Main, Danube and Po rivers. Most of its cruises are organized by tour operators from Germany, the United States and Switzerland. Its crews are multilingual, offering operations in German or English.

Related Stories

Royal Caribbean to Raise Recommended Gratuities in 2018

Cruise Planners: Top Predictions for Cruise Travel in 2018

Photologue: MSC Seaside Arrives in PortMiami for Caribbean Cruising

This Week in Cruise: Miami Cruises Continue to Grow