Lake Constance: Catamaran crashes into harbour wall – several people injured and significant damage to property

At around 8.50 am, the catamaran “Constanze” crashed into the quay wall in the port of Konstanz. According to the Lake Constance catamaran operator, there were 14 passengers on board. Normally, the vessel is authorised to carry up to 182 people. Twelve people sustained injuries in the collision, including passengers and the two skippers. Several of them were taken to nearby hospitals for further treatment. According to the shipping company, none of the injured were in a life-threatening condition. Sebastian Dix, press spokesman for the Bodensee Catamaran Shipping Company, confirmed this on Monday in response to an enquiry from BOOTE: “As far as we are aware, most of the injured have now been discharged from hospital.”

Immediately after the collision, the passenger ship was evacuated. The fire brigade, the police and the German Life Saving Association (DLRG) arrived in large numbers. A rescue helicopter was also called in.

​The last time there was a collision between a Sailing boat and catamaran on Lake Constance. The skipper was sentenced to six months’ a penalty notice following the collision proposed. Our sister magazine, YACHT, reported on this.

Low water levels hampered the rescue operation on Lake Constance

The low water levels in Lake Constance This posed a challenge for the emergency services. Some of the DLRG boats were unable to get close enough to the stricken catamaran due to their draught. The fire service boats, which have a shallower draught, therefore took the injured on board and brought them ashore.

Further articles on Lake Constance:

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• ​Eleven deaths on Lake Constance – Water Police take stock

Following initial inspections on Friday, there was no danger to the water. Neither oil nor other operating fluids had leaked, nor had water entered the catamaran. Both hulls were dented by the force of the impact. “We estimate the damage to property to be between 500,000 and one million euros,” says Sebastian Dix. “The catamaran ‘Constanze’ was towed free with the help of several vessels and is now moored in the port of Konstanz.” It has been impounded there pending police investigations.

Investigation into the collision

It was initially unclear why the catamaran collided with the wall at the harbour entrance. To establish the cause of the accident, the vessel’s recorded voyage data, amongst other things, is to be analysed. In addition, investigators are using drone footage and divers have searched the scene of the accident. The question of whether the low water level played a part is also being investigated.

As Sebastian Dix told BOOTE on Monday afternoon, there are as yet no new findings regarding the circumstances of the accident. “There was no indication of technical faults with the catamaran, nor any indication of health problems affecting the skipper or helmsman. Both have successfully passed their annual medical examinations and are officially qualified to operate the catamaran,” explained the press spokesperson. The public prosecutor’s office and the police are continuing their investigations. BOOTE will update the article should any new information come to light.

Ferry service on Lake Constance every two hours

The accident affected the ferry service between Konstanz and Friedrichshafen. Normally, the catamarans run hourly across Lake Constance during the summer. “The service is currently running every two hours with the catamaran ‘Ferdinand’. Following the accident, only one vessel was initially available for regular service, as the catamaran ‘Fridolin’ is undergoing maintenance. “However, we will try to speed up the work here and hope to have ‘Fridolin’ back in service by the end of this week at the latest, so that we can resume hourly services,” says Sebastian Dix.