MS Heidelberg accidents and incidents

18 May 2024Ship Collision / Allision

On the night of May 18, 2024, a collision between a small motorboat and the cruise ship Heidelberg resulted in 2 dead and 5 missing. The accident occurred on the Danube River, near Budapest.

Hungarian disaster response units, comprising 95 personnel, 25 vessels, and drones, were deployed to search for the missing along the Danube's entire Hungarian section downstream from the collision site. The Budapest police officially confirmed that 8 adults were aboard the small motorboat at the time of the accident.

The collision came to light on Saturday night (May 18th) when a man with a bleeding head wound was found near a main road by the river close to Veroce, approx 55 km (34 mi) north of Budapest. From initial communications with the injured man, police officers concluded that he was involved in a boating accident.

The body of a man was found south of Veroce, and a woman’s body was soon after discovered downstream near a bridge in Budapest's northern outskirts. The damaged motorboat was also recovered in this area.

During the accident, the ship present in the vicinity was MS Heidelberg. The vessel was detained in Komarom. Police noted hull damages, including large scratches on the bow/forward section.

A criminal investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the collision and to establish whether any criminal liability is involved.