Investigators find no sign of defect in Konstanz catamaran crash

There is no indication that a technical defect caused a catamaran to crash into a harbour wall in Konstanz, injuring 12 people, ORF reports, citing Germany’s Südwestrundfunk and the Konstanz public prosecutor’s office.

Investigators are now focusing on whether human error may have caused the collision. They are examining a possible offence of endangering maritime traffic under Section 315a of the German Criminal Code, including whether one of the vessel’s operators made a mistake.

The suspicion has not been established. The public prosecutor’s office said there was currently only an initial suspicion, and the investigation was still at an early stage. The presumption of innocence applies.

A technical expert has examined the damaged catamaran, but a final report is not yet available. Investigators are also evaluating the vessel’s voyage recorder and examining the wheelhouse to establish how the accident happened.

The catamaran crashed head-on into the harbour wall while entering Konstanz harbour in mid-August. Twelve people, including both operators, were injured, some seriously. Initial estimates put the damage to the vessel at between 500,000 and 1 million euros. The catamaran service between Konstanz and Friedrichshafen is used particularly by commuters.