Overview
- The Funny Girl lost its motor and became unsteerable about five kilometres before Helgoland on Saturday, leaving roughly 60 passengers aboard and causing no injuries.
- The DGzRS rescue cruiser Herrmann Marwede responded and transferred the vessel to the tug Nordic, which towed the ferry under escort to Cuxhaven where it docked at about 22:30.
- Adler & Eils has canceled and will refund MS Funny Girl sailings for at least June 14 and 15 while the ship undergoes technical inspection in Cuxhaven to identify the defect.
- Strong west winds near 60 km/h complicated the operation and prevented a safe landing at Helgoland, so authorities routed the ferry and its passengers to the mainland.
- The Funny Girl experienced a similar machinery-related drift about 18 months ago, a fact that raises questions about maintenance and could prompt closer scrutiny if the current inspection finds systemic faults.