Reviews & Ratings for the Wilson-Maas

To ensure the continuity of maritime transport, the Waterways and Shipping Authority has deployed Germany’s most robust icebreaker, the 'Arkona,' in response to the increasingly thick ice cover in Western Pomerania's coastal waters. With ice measuring approximately 15 centimeters in thickness, and even more substantial in some areas, timely interventions have become essential for the shipping industry. On January 31, 2026, the freighter 'Wilson Maas' encountered difficulties, becoming stuck in the ice while traveling from Szczecin to Vierow. The 'Arkona' was tasked with breaking the surrounding ice and successfully guided the vessel to its intended port of arrival. The eastern approach to Stralsund was particularly troublesome, with significantly thicker ice challenging navigation. Experts from the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency anticipate that ice conditions will worsen in the coming days. Capable of breaking through ice thicknesses of up to half a meter, the 'Arkona' is actively maintaining clear shipping lanes and verifying navigational markers in the Greifswald Bodden. The icebreaker operations are set to continue as long as adverse weather conditions prevail. In the meantime, a ban on nighttime navigation for freighters heading to the ports of Stralsund, Lubmin, and Greifswald is currently enforced. However, daytime operations persist, supported by the presence of icebreakers. For further updates, including photos and videos, visit: https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/mecklenburg-vorpommern/dauerfrost-eisbrecher-arkona-raeumt-kuestengewaesser-frei,eis-302.html