Accident on Lake Constance: Penalty order against the helmsman of the catamaran

According to the investigating authorities, the helmsman of the fast ferry could have prevented the collision with the sailing yacht of an owner from Constance. According to a report in "Südkurier Online", the skipper of the catamaran "Constanze" is accused of negligently causing the accident. A penalty order has now been applied for against the man. He is to pay a fine of 3,600 euros.

According to the results of the investigation, the skipper of the ferry should have seen the sailing yacht in front of him. The accident could have been prevented. The second skipper on board was apparently not in the driver's cab at the time of the accident.

The accident occurred on 12 August 2016 off Hagnau on Lake Constance. The ferry of the fast connection Constance-Friedrichshafen rammed into a Faurby 330 belonging to a Konstanz sailing couple. During the violent collision, the hull of the ten-metre yacht was literally ripped open and sank within a few minutes. The 69-year-old owner of the sailing yacht and his 64-year-old wife were rescued by the crew of the ferry; fortunately, they were only slightly injured in the incident. The Faurby 330 is now lying at a depth of around 220 metres at the bottom of Lake Constance. The wreck will probably not be raised.

Following the accident, the safety requirements for the catamaran ferries are being discussed again. Unlike the ships on the regular scheduled services, the fast ferries operated by the catamaran shipping company only have right of way on the extended entry and exit routes to the ports of Constance and Friedrichshafen. On the long route, they have to give way to all other ships on the lake, including motorboats and sailing boats.