Discover the Cosco-Harmony: Ratings & Maritime News

On November 19, 2011, the German passenger ferry "Altenwerder" (MMSI-No.: 211263850), carrying approximately 40 passengers, found itself in a precarious situation when it collided with the container ship m/v "Cosco Harmony." The incident unfolded in dense fog and darkness while the "Altenwerder" was navigating the Elbe River from Övelgönne to Finkenwerder. As the ferry approached the Köhlfleet, it veered across the Northern Elbe towards the Bubendey Shore, inadvertently crossing paths with the "Cosco Harmony." The pilot of the container vessel attempted to communicate with the ferry via VHF radio, but his efforts went unanswered. The result was a scraping collision with the hull of the "Cosco Harmony," which caused panic among the passengers aboard the "Altenwerder," leading to some falling onto the deck in the chaos. Fortunately, after a few tense seconds, the ferry managed to break free from the container ship’s side, narrowly avoiding a further disaster by missing a collision with the "Hanseatic," another passenger ferry that was sailing closely behind. The police launched an investigation into the incident, focusing on potential endangerment of ship traffic. Preliminary findings indicated that the captain of the "Altenwerder" may have lost his sense of direction, contributing to the unfortunate collision.