Rowing boat in Hemishofen tips over after colliding with navigation signs

Rowing boat in Hemishofen tips over after colliding with navigation signs

On May 17, 2025, an incident occurred in Hemishofen, Switzerland, that highlights the importance of correctly estimating currents in shipping. A rowboat crew consisting of a 67-year-old man and his wife collided with a navigation sign, resulting in significant damage to their boat. Fortunately, the two occupants, who were traveling on the High Rhine route between Stein am Rhein and Schaffhausen, remained uninjured and were able to escape to the bank on their own.

The collision occurred when the helmsman misjudged the current and collided with the prominent shipping mark No. 57. As a result of the impact, the rowing boat filled with water, capsized and got stuck on the boat. The total damage to the rowing boat, a 2-series model, is recorded as a total loss. A fire brigade's “Rhine Rescue” team, consisting of six men, and a private skipper were necessary to salvage the boat.

Legal consequences and safety precautions

After the incident, the crew's helmsman was reported to the Schaffhausen public prosecutor's office. This raises questions about shipping safety and proper compliance with regulations that are important in shipping. Navigation signs, such as the sign in question, are used to mark waterways and ensure that boats stay in the designated shipping lanes. The lateral system, which is widespread in Europe, provides for specific identification through colors and shapes to ensure compliance with traffic regulations on waterways.

The lateral system A, which is used in Switzerland, differentiates between starboard and port buoys. Starboard buoys are green with a pointed masthead, while port buoys are red with a blunt masthead. This is important because the direction of travel for boats in this region is “coming from sea”. Therefore, when driving on inland waterways, the orientation of the buoys should also be taken into account in order to avoid collisions like the one already mentioned.

The incidents like those that occurred in Hemishofen illustrate the need for comprehensive training for boaters and the importance of accurately perceiving and assessing current conditions. Both the training and use of navigation signs are essential components in preventing such accidents in the future. Further information on the functions and types of navigation signs can be found on the website of Skipper.

The rapid and independent rescue of the occupants is a testament to a certain amount of experience, but serious accidents caused by such a collision could possibly be avoided in the future if educational work continues to be carried out so that similar incidents do not occur again.

For further details on the incident in Hemishofen, see Fireworld.