Cargo Ship Collides with Sailboat Near Germany

German sea rescue teams responded to a collision in the North Sea involving a coastal cargo ship and a small sailboat in the Outer Elbe area. The solo sailor on the sailboat was shaken but no serious injuries were reported on either vessel. The cargo ship, named Lotta, was en route from Rouen, France to Klaipeda, Lithuania. Built in 2013 and registered in Cyprus, the ship is managed from Lithuania.

The collision occurred approximately five nautical miles west-northwest of Scharhorn Island in the North Sea. The German Sea Rescue Association dispatched two rescue vessels upon receiving the report at 0640 on October 3. The sea swell was around one meter and winds were at force 5 on the Beaufort scale. The Lotta collided with a 9.5-meter sailboat in the busy Outer Elbe area, causing significant damage to the sailboat.

The Lotta assisted the damaged sailboat, which had a large hole in its port side above the waterline and a broken mast. A member of the rescue team assessed the solo sailor’s condition and towed the sailboat to Cuxhaven, where it arrived at 1220. The cause of the collision is unknown, but the cargo ship sustained no damage and continued its journey to Lithuania, expected to arrive on October 5.

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