Overview

• The Jens Albrecht III ran aground near Harlesiel on Wednesday morning due to a rudder system failure caused by an electronics defect.
• Fifteen passengers and three crew members were aboard; seven passengers were evacuated by a private helper while the rest stayed onboard for hours.
• The vessel was refloated at high tide around 19:45, nine hours after the incident, and returned to Harlesiel harbor.
• The Wasserschutzpolizei has removed the ferry from service pending an expert inspection scheduled for Friday to evaluate its seaworthiness.
• The Jens Albrecht III typically operates ferry and excursion services between Harlesiel and Wangerooge, making its disruption impactful for regional transport.