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Viking Cruises ‘heartbroken’ over crew deaths
Thursday, 12 Sep, 2016
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Viking Cruises has said it is ‘heartbroken’ after two crew members died when one of its ships struck a bridge in Germany.
The Viking Freya was carrying 230 people when it crashed in the dark just after leaving Erlangen at around 1.30am on Sunday.
The workers who died were from Hungary – a 49-year-old who was guiding the vessel in place of the captain and a 33-year-old.
The 181 passengers and 47 other crew members were unhurt and customers were given the option to continue their cruise on another vessel from the town of Passau or return home.
Viking Cruises said: "We are heartbroken, and company executives are on the scene to work closely with local authorities to understand the details of the accident."
It is believed the accident occurred because a retractable wheelhouse was not lowered in time.
The vessel was sailing the Main-Danube Canal heading for Budapest.
The line said talks with guests over compensation for the disruption will begin soon.
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Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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