The passenger ship Flinthorn with 127 people grounded in Wadden Sea northern edge of the Ruteplate between Bensersiel and Langeoog in Germany. The vessel was under way to Langeoog, but due to decreasing water level ran aground at a sandbank. The crew reported the accident to the local authorities. Among the passengers on board there were a lot of children from several school classes traveling to country house on Langeoog, which pushed authorities to start immediate evacuation of the troubled vessel. The decreasing water level increased ship’s list to starboard and caused danger from capsizing. At the scene of grounding were dispatched several tugs and rescue boats. All the passengers were evacuated from the seaside and then transported to Langeoog. There were no injuries reported. The three crew remained on board to wait for salvage.

The passenger vessel Flinthorn remained almost dry at low tide with list to starboard. It was estimated that there are no underwater damages and later during the day was refloated at high tide with assistance of towing tug. The ship was berthed in Langeoog for further inspection and special survey. There were no reports about damages and oil pollution, but local authorities started investigation about root cause of the accident. According to preliminary information, the ship suffered mechanical failure, which caused the grounding into the sandbank.

The passenger ship Flinthorn (IMO: 8034215) has overall length of 33.50 m, moulded beam of 6.70 m and maximum draft of 3.50 m. The gross tonnage of the vessel is 152 GRT. The passenger ship Flinthorn was built in 1961 by Krogen Werft in their shipyard in Rendsburg, Germany.