The river cruise ship A-Rosa Sena, carrying more than 200 people, collided with a bridge on the outskirts of Amsterdam on Wednesday night. The vessel’s helmsman sustained minor injuries, and all passengers were evacuated, local media reported.
The ship, owned by a German company and sailing under the Swiss flag, was heading towards the Amsterdam–Rhine Canal when it struck the Amsterdamsebrug bridge. The 135-meter-long cruiser sustained damage to its wheelhouse but was able to pass under the bridge and dock further along the canal, allowing emergency services to board.
A few hours after the collision, a power failure left the vessel in darkness, prompting the evacuation of over 200 passengers. Most were asleep in their cabins and had to be woken before being guided over a small dyke to the main road.
No passengers were injured, while the helmsman suffered minor injuries.
Local police temporarily closed the bridge to inspect for damage, reopening it around 3:00 a.m. The ship sustained significant damage and was unable to continue sailing. It was towed back to Amsterdam.
The A-Rosa Sena is equipped with a hydraulically retractable wheelhouse on deck 5, a common feature on European river cruisers that allows ships to pass under low bridges. According to preliminary information, the wheelhouse was raised at the time of the collision, causing it to strike the underside of the bridge span and be crushed.
The exact cause of the incident is under investigation, although some passengers suggested that the captain may not have been fully attentive while navigating.
