The Helgoland ferry ‘MS Funny Girl’ became disabled off the North Sea island on Saturday afternoon. According to NDR, citing the water police and the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service (DGzRS), the engine failed, leaving the ship adrift. There are 69 people on board, including passengers and crew.
The rescue cruiser ‘Hermann Marwede’ initially towed the ferry toward the mainland. After about two hours, the salvage tug ‘Nordic’ took over, later followed by the commercial tug ‘Wulf’. The ferry is now being taken to Cuxhaven. Stormy weather with winds of up to force seven is complicating the rescue operation, a DGzRS spokesperson said. One passenger may need medical assistance, so the rescue service continues to escort the ferry.
The shipping company Adler & Eils has deployed the MS ‘Helgoland’ as a replacement for the return trip from Helgoland. The return journey goes via Cuxhaven, from where the ‘MS Fair Lady’ will take passengers to Büsum. Tickets remain valid. According to the shipping company, the ‘Funny Girl’ will be out of service at least on Sunday and Monday; online tickets will be automatically refunded or rebooked. The exact cause of the engine failure is still being investigated.
Source: www.ndr.de
