Oil disaster in Cuxhaven: 6,000 liters of marine diesel leaked!

Oil disaster in Cuxhaven: 6,000 liters of marine diesel leaked!

An incident in the port of Cuxhaven is causing worried faces and concerned environmentalists: On Wednesday morning, July 23, 2025, there was a ship collision between the German tanker “Capella” and the Dutch offshore supply ship “Coastal Legend”. Around 6,000 liters of marine diesel oil got into the water, which led to an alarming fuel leak, as [ksta.de](https://www.ksta.de/panorama/schiffskollision-sorge-fuer-oel carpet-in-der-nordsee-1071029) reports.

The emergency services have been working hard since the morning to remove the oil-water mixture. By the afternoon, around 80 cubic meters had already been successfully removed. The fire brigade and the Technical Relief Agency (THW) are on the move with special equipment to overcome the challenge. There are no injuries and shipping traffic on the Elbe is not restricted, which is positive news in this predicament.

Quick reactions and environmental hazards

Despite the current situation, aerial reconnaissance remains active to determine whether the oil has entered the Elbe. So far this has largely been prevented. The Environment Minister Christian Meyer thanked the emergency services for their quick response. Nevertheless, there are legitimate concerns: Greenpeace and the Nature Conservation Association (NABU) expressly warn of the long-term environmental damage that could be caused by this accident. The possible deposition of oil in the sediments could have serious consequences for wildlife, for example even small amounts can cause poisoning and affect the breathing of many marine organisms, experts say. “Oil can accumulate in the food chain and even reach humans,” warns marine biologist Thilo Maack, as ndr.de reports.

The damage to the offshore ship, which has an approximately 80 centimeter long crack, is significant. The incident has been classified as a “complex pollutant accident”, which makes the situation even more critical. The incident command took over operational management to ensure a structured response to the incident.

Conclusions and demands

The causes of the collision appear to be due to an incorrect assessment by the captain of the “Capella”, without any technical errors being identified in the ships involved. NABU is calling for a comprehensive investigation into the causes of accidents and stricter shipping regulations in order to avoid such incidents in the future. Among other things, a ban on highly toxic oils is called for in order to better protect the environment.

Oil spills like these are not only an acute problem, but also pose a serious threat to the entire maritime ecosystem. Combating such disasters requires rapid and coordinated action, from the construction of oil barriers to the use of skimmers to recover oil. In doing so, society remembers the lessons from the past about how emissions and deposits can cause lasting damage to the ecosystem, as informatorisch.de highlights.

We will continue to monitor developments and hope for rapid and successful intervention by the responsible authorities in order to minimize environmental damage and protect nature.