Storm: “Aida Prima” is stuck with passengers in the hurricane off Helgoland

Storm “Ylenia”
“Aida Prima”: Cruise ship is stuck with passengers in the hurricane off Helgoland

by Til Bartels
02/17/2022, 11:49 am

The 300 meter long cruise ship almost made it into the port of Hamburg. The captain of the “Aida Prima” had shortened the stay in the last port, in Le Havre in France, in order to return to Hamburg in time before the threatening storm “Ylenia” and dock at the terminal in Steinwerder.

But the weather conditions deteriorated so much on Wednesday evening that the Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) canceled the planned time slot between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. The entrance to the Elbe was temporarily closed to large ships. This routine measure, which is taken in appropriate weather conditions, also applies to container ships. Because the high superstructures offer too much surface area for the wind to attack, which makes maneuvering in the narrow fairway on the Elbe and mooring at the quay more difficult.

It is therefore safer for ships and the well-being of the people on board to wait out the storm in the German Bight. Sailors speak of “weathering”. But for the passengers on board, the extension of their cruise is unlikely to be a pleasure.

Passenger on board: “Really bad here”

“I can’t sleep. The wind is too strong,” tweeted user Basti on the night of “Aida Prima”. Fellow sufferer Thorben added: “I’m circling on the Aida Prima off Heligoland with 9 meter high waves and I can’t sleep either, it’s really bad here.”

The “Aida Prima” is currently on a North Sea city trip. On the trip from Hamburg, not only was the stay in Le Havre shortened, but due to time constraints, the stop in the English port of Southampton was also omitted in order to be in Hamburg earlier to change beds. Late Thursday morning, the “Marine Traffic” app continued to indicate the position of the ship near the island of Helgoland.

“The safety of guests and crew is always the top priority at Aida Cruises, which is why we have adapted the itinerary to the current weather conditions,” said the shipping company at the request of the star With. “The guests are doing well and the captain keeps them informed on board.”

Like every modern cruise ship, the “Aida Prima” is equipped with stabilizers that are extended under the water surface and reduce the ship’s roll in rough seas by up to 50 percent.

According to weather forecasts, the storm should subside on Thursday night. Then the “Aida Prima” could leave the waiting area in the North Sea at the earliest and enter the Elbe. “We currently expect that the ship will probably enter the port of Hamburg tomorrow morning for the planned changeover day,” said a press spokeswoman on Wednesday star. “Ultimately, of course, this depends on the decision of the Hamburg port authorities.”

“Aida Cosma” relocated: Kiel instead of Bremerhaven

As a precautionary measure, Aida Cruises has also relocated the berth of the latest newbuild: The “Aida Cosma”, which will be christened in the port of Hamburg on April 9, should be in Bremerhaven by next week.

However, Columbuskaje, which is very exposed to the westerly wind, has required the LNG-powered vessel to leave the pier and is now en route to Kiel, where it will arrive on Friday. From February 26, it will take over the metropolitan route of “Aida Prima” from Hamburg.

The “MSC Magnifica” is currently completing a course similar to that of the Aida Cruises ship. However, the shipping company had made the decision not to leave the port of Le Havre because of the storm “Ylenia”.

Also read:

– “Wonder of the Seas: This is what the largest cruise ship in the world looks like

– Cruise and Corona: There is always a residual risk on board

– Insolvency of the MV shipyards: This is what the nightmare ship “Global Dream” looks like

See in the video: Two storm lows are moving across Germany from the west. Schools are closing in many regions, and there is a storm surge warning on the North Sea coast. In some places, sandbags are supposed to protect against the impending flood.