Ferry traffic in the Weser severely affected: Vegesack temporarily out of service!

Ferry traffic in the Weser severely affected: Vegesack temporarily out of service!

There are currently some challenges for the Bremen-Stedingen ferry company (FBS) in the Bremen region. Managing director Ralf Kölpin describes the situation as very tense. Due to an oil spill and two defective ships, travel on the Weser is severely restricted. The ferry “Vegesack” in particular has currently stopped its services because the ramp can no longer be raised. These problems come at an inopportune time, as the ferry had only been put back into service two days ago after a previous breakdown.

The “Vegesack” was fully loaded with vehicles that now had to be carefully unloaded. The ship is currently at the pier and is waiting for a technician to fix the problem. The crew of the “Lemwerder II” has agreed to help out. Although a replacement ship, the “Rönnebeck”, was in use for Wednesday and Thursday, this too now runs between Blumenthal and Motzen instead of on the Vegesack-Lemwerder route as originally planned.

Accident at the ferry pier

An incident at the ferry dock in Golzwarden also complicates the situation. Here an FBS ship got into difficulties during a berthing maneuver and got stuck on the ferry ramp. It was about technical equipment for an oil defense exercise that was to be taken on board. Thanks to thick holding ropes and the rapid response of the water rescue team, the ship was secured before it threatened to tip over. Fortunately, there were no injuries and ferry operations remained unaffected, while the ship was able to float again after three hours. Experts found no serious damage, so the ferry was able to continue its journey.

At the same time, the FBS is confronted with further technical challenges. Damage to the hatch of the “Stedingen” puts additional strain on the ferry company because this ship also has to go to the shipyard. Kölpin hopes for a repair date as soon as possible so that the situation does not escalate further. In the worst case, the number of ships used could have to be adjusted in order to continue to transport passengers.

Weather-related restrictions

The problems are also compounded by adverse weather conditions. A strong easterly wind is having a serious impact on ferry traffic to the holiday islands on the North Sea. Travelers who want to go from Norddeich to the island of Juist must be prepared for complete cancellations. Last week the ferry connections to Norderney and Wangerooge also had to be significantly restricted. Water levels in the region have temporarily fallen by up to 1.50 meters, further complicating the situation.

In view of these challenges, it is advisable to find out about current travel options - be it online or directly from the ferry companies. Overall, FBS, like other operators in the region, is struggling with the current situation and hopes to be able to offer reliable ferry connections again soon.

Further information about the ferry cancellations and the technical difficulties at the FBS can be found at Weser courier, while details of the accident in Golzwarden appear NWZ Online can be found. Information about weather-related restrictions can be found at t-online.de.