A historic German lightship that now serves as a floating museum was involved in a collision with a sailboat near Heligoland, Germany, on June 7. The incident occurred about one nautical mile from the port, prompting an immediate response from German maritime rescue authorities. Despite the damage caused by the collision, no injuries were reported among those onboard either vessel.

According to reports, the sailboat suffered significant damage during the incident and was dismasted after the impact. Rescue vessels, including Verena, Hermann Marwede, and the federal vessel Neuwerk, were dispatched to assist. Medical personnel boarded the sailboat and confirmed that the two people onboard, a Dutch man and woman, were unharmed.

Authorities stated that the circumstances leading to the collision remain unclear. At the time of the incident, the sailboat was reportedly sailing under full sail, while the lightship was returning from a public exhibition event in Wyk auf Föhr, where it had been open to visitors for several days.

The historic vessel, Bürgermeister O'Swald, commonly known as “Elbe 1” or the “Red Lady,” is recognized as the largest lightship ever built. Constructed in the 1940s and commissioned in 1948, the vessel served for four decades as a navigational aid near the Elbe estuary, helping guide ships approaching the German port of Cuxhaven.

During its operational career, the lightship reportedly experienced numerous collisions with passing vessels before being retired in 1988. Following the latest incident, there were no immediate reports of damage to the historic ship, which safely returned to its berth in Cuxhaven.

German authorities, including the Helgoland water police, have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the collision. Maritime officials are expected to review vessel movements, navigational conditions, and other factors surrounding the incident.