Cosco-Harmony

The German passenger ferry "Altenwerder" (MMSI-No.: 211263850) with about 40 passengers was in collision with the container m/v "Cosco Harmony" on Nov 19, 2011. The accident happened in dense fog and darkness in the evening when the "Altenwerder" was running on the Elbe from Övelgönne to Finkenwerder. Short before entering the Köhlfleet the ship crossed the Northern Elbe towards Bubendey Shore, thereby also crossing the course of the "Cosco Harmony" the pilot of which in vain tried to get in contact with the HADAG-ferry via VHF. The ferry then scraped along the hull of the container vessel. Passengers paniced, some fell onto the floor. After some seconds the "Altenwerder" got lose from the container ship and narrowly avoided a collision with the passenger ferry "Hanseatic" which was running behind the container ship. Some minutes later the situation was under control. According the police which launched an investigation for endangering the ship traffic, the captain of the "Altenwerder" had lost his direction.