Save the Danube! Heavy freighter blocks Regensburg - recovery is running!

Save the Danube! Heavy freighter blocks Regensburg - recovery is running!

Regensburg, Deutschland - chaos on the Danube: A 110 meter long cargo ship has blocked part of the important waterway in Regensburg since June 12, 2025. As reported sueddeutsche.de, the ship, which is loaded with 1,780 tons of iron ore from Rotterdam, was ran to the right bank when trying to use the current. Since then, all previous recovery attempts with shear boats have failed miserably.

Despite the blockade, other ships can drive past the side, which has defused the situation. However, the stuck ship makes the waterway more complicated for many transports in the Danube room, which plays a key role for inland navigation. If the Danube were considered a large trade route, such incidents are always a challenge for the companies there.

Railing attempts and forecasts

A new attempt to rescue is already planned for Monday. Another ship will move and reload parts of the iron ore with an excavator. Disrupting makes the cargo ship easier and therefore more maneuverable, which increases the chances of successful exemption. In view of the weather forecast, which announces rain and thunderstorms for Sunday, it remains to be seen how the water level will develop. So far, however, this is stable and has not increased despite the inconsistent weather conditions, such as [Kurier.de] (https://www.kurier.de/inhalt.notfall-auf-dem-wasser-Gueterschiff-auf-donau-Quer--Neue-Hergungsuch. reported.

The emergency services do everything they can to get the freighter quickly as possible. If this continues to fail, the damage to the companies involved, which may be classified as insurance damage, could increase considerably. Experts warn that a longer blocking of the Danube cannot be ruled out by the rescue measures.

The role of the Danube for shipping

The Danube, which extends into the Black Sea over an impressive 2,800 kilometers to the mouth, has always been an important trade route. The river is of great importance not only for cargo ships, but also for passenger ships. This inland navigation has always been very important in the course of history, sometimes even acted as a backbone for trade in the region. Operators such as the first Danube steam shipping company (DDSG) to this day have great influence on the transport on this waterway, as wikipedia.

The Danube from Kelheim is currently accessible and offers a total length of 2,415 km to the mouth. Nevertheless, the ship owners and operators must always pay attention to the fluctuations in the water level, which are influenced by weather conditions and other factors. Depending on the water depth and bridge crossing height, the food is regulated differently.

In the next few days, the situation on the Danube remains exciting. We stay on the ball and report on the developments related to the stuck cargo ship!