Cruise ship MPS De Zonnebloem of the Breda Association De Zonnebloem was approached in Germany on Saturday morning. There were 69 guests, 65 volunteers and 15 crew members on board during the collision. As far as we know, no one was injured. The ship has suffered considerable damage. For the time being it can no longer be sailed, the people on board are brought back to the Netherlands by the association.
The ship was collected by another ship and has sustained a hefty hole in the hull. De Zonnebloem expects the ship to be out of service for a longer period because it must be repaired.
Marcel van der Kaa, deputy director of De Zonnebloem, is especially happy that all people on board are safe. “Of course everyone is very shocked. Their well -being is therefore our greatest concern. Victim Support is offered for everyone who needs it,” he says.
De Zonnebloem tries to get everyone at home as quickly as possible. “Our employees are busy arranging this in both Germany and the Netherlands,” says Van der Kaa. Handicapped carrier Valys has offered to do that, reports the spokesperson for De Zonnebloem. “Very sweet.”
The guests on the ship are mostly people with a physical disability. “For many people, a trip with our ship is the only way to be able to go on vacation,” says Van der Kaa.
Alternative
The Zonnebloem takes 2800 people on a journey every year. She does that with the help of just as many volunteers. “It is very sad that we have to inform participants and volunteers who would sail in the coming period that their journey cannot take place.” For the people whose holiday cannot continue now, De Zonnebloem tries to find an alternative.
The damage to the ship is mainly at the front. “That is lucky in an accident. If the ship was approached on the side, the huts were hit,” said the spokesperson.