ELBE EXPRESS

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Skipper struck by breaking mast in Brunsbüttel

On May 24, 2025, at approximately 6 p.m., the "Elbe Express" collided with the bunker tanker "Mersey" (IMO: 9170420) while entering the old south lock of the Kiel Canal in Brunsbüttel. The sailing vessel was caught in the tanker's propeller current and rocked. It then caught on the tire fenders at the tanker's hull, breaking the mast halfway up. The falling debris severely injured the 55-year-old skipper of the yacht. The backstay stretched across her chest, pinning her between the railing and the radar mount. She lost consciousness. The crew was quickly able to free her and make an emergency call by cell phone. The skipper had also regained consciousness by then. Firefighters with turntable ladders and paramedics worked for an extended period to rescue her. She was then taken to a Hamburg hospital by rescue helicopter. The on-site examination revealed a broken fifth rib. The woman was supposed to be released quickly. However, because she also complained of neck pain, she was kept in the hospital for observation. The other crew members were unharmed. The tanker sustained scratches on the roof of the bridge and the railing, but was able to continue its journey from Kiel to Hamburg after the investigations were finished three hours later, during which the lock chamber remained barred for shipping. The 'Elbe Express' moved under its own power to the Brunsbüttel marina. Subsequently, the Cuxhaven Water Police prohibited further sailing. It was now awaiting a new rig. The yacht was a Varianta 37, a training boat from the Eichler Yacht School, which uses it for training cruises on the Elbe. It was on its way out of the canal into the Elbe with the instructor and a customer crew. The training trips had to be suspended until further notice. Report with photos: https://www.yacht.de/special/seenot/kollision-in-brunsbuettel-mastbruch-in-schleuse-skipperin-verletzt/