Baltic Sea chaos: Ferry Berlin” stops off Denmark with 500 passengers!

Baltic Sea chaos: Ferry Berlin” stops off Denmark with 500 passengers!

Around 500 passengers on the hybrid ferry “Berlin”, which was traveling from Rostock to Gedser on June 15, 2025, experienced an unexpected adventure. Shortly before arriving in Denmark, the ferry had to turn around abruptly due to a mechanical defect. Captain Jörg Ellner described that the ferry was only 20 meters from the Danish port when it was forced to take this step. A defective locking pin on the bow visor meant that the ferry could not be unloaded as it could not dock backwards in the harbor. Scandlines spokeswoman Anette Ustrup Svendsen assured that the safety of the passengers was always guaranteed, even if the situation became a test of patience for many.

The journey back to the German coast took about two hours, so the ferry docked in Rostock at around 1:15 p.m. There it was moored stern first, somewhat out of order - an unusual situation that meant that the first cars had to drive off board in reverse gear. Many passengers had to wait on the car deck during this time, although they were promised that they would be provided with food and drinks.

Mixed reactions among passengers

Regina Jahr, one of the travelers, commented on the different reactions on board: While some saw the unexpected turn of their journey as a small adventure, others were desperate and annoyed by the unclear information situation. Waiting on the car-loading deck proved stressful, with many passengers having to go more than an hour without information about the situation. Meanwhile, the crew went from car to car to keep passengers informed as the loudspeaker announcements were not reaching everyone.

The violation of the timetable meant that the ferry “Copenhagen”, the sister ship of the “Berlin”, took on the last remaining passengers, but this was not a pleasant solution for everyone due to the high occupancy. The situation in which the “Copenhagen” was already at full capacity resulted in a total delay of seven hours. However, passengers are entitled to refunds and compensation if trips are canceled or delayed, as the ADAC explains.

What does this mean for travelers?

Passengers whose travel has been significantly disrupted should find out about their rights. If there are delays of one hour or more, you are entitled to a refund of your fare or the option of traveling on another ship. The Passenger Rights Act also stipulates that the ferry company must offer free food or drinks in order to make such unpleasant experiences a little more bearable. In this case, the crew did everything they could to provide the passengers with the best possible care and to make the waiting time as pleasant as possible.

The Berlin itself, a modern ship with a hybrid propulsion system, was put into service in 2016 and has a capacity of approximately 1,300 passengers as well as 460 cars and 100 trucks. Technicians repaired the ferry overnight and it is expected to be back on schedule the following Sunday, it is reported. The company took the situation seriously and acted proactively to prevent further inconveniences.

The coming days will show how the passengers deal with the unexpected circumstances. However, the Baltic Sea remains a popular destination for those who love to travel, despite the sometimes unpredictable challenges that a ferry trip can bring.