Ship accident: Freihafenelbe bridge in Hamburg closed to pedestrians and vehicles!

Ship accident: Freihafenelbe bridge in Hamburg closed to pedestrians and vehicles!

On Tuesday morning, October 28, 2025, an unusual incident occurred in the port of Hamburg: a barge collided with the Freihafenelbe bridge. How NDR Reportedly, the bridge was damaged by the collision, resulting in an immediate closure to pedestrians, cars and cyclists. However, ships are still allowed to pass under the bridge.

The situation occurred around 5 a.m. when the 35-year-old skipper was traveling from Holthusenkai towards Peutehafen with several containers on board. While passing under the bridge, a collision occurred, which affected both the bridge and the ship's containers. According to reports, there were no injuries and no fuel leaks. However, as T-Online notes, the exact circumstances of the collision remained unclear; An investigation is underway to determine whether the ship's cargo was stacked too high or whether a higher water level caused the collision.

Uncertainty about the cause of the accident

The cause of the accident is being intensively examined by the responsible authorities. Another aspect that was noticed is that the headroom under the bridge varies with the water level. These weather changes may also have contributed to the accident. An investigation report indicates that the flood level at the time of the accident was above the predicted value. What is particularly critical is the fact that the Freihafenelbe Bridge, which was built in 1926 and is considered in need of renovation, has recently only been accessible to a limited extent for vehicles over 7.5 tons in order to reduce the load.

The Hamburg port authority had already taken measures in September last year to ensure the stability of the bridge. However, major repairs that were due have been postponed indefinitely, further increasing concerns about structural integrity.

Consequences for road users

The authorities have decided that the bridge will now remain closed until further notice. Anyone who relies on the Freihafenelbe Bridge must be prepared for a closure of at least a week. However, there are no restrictions for shipping traffic - everything remains the same here, even if the entire situation represents a certain challenge for the affected residents and commuters.

The investigation into the cause of the accident and the subsequent measures are now continuing, while the Port of Hamburg remains in the public eye. Whether the bridge can be repaired in advance or whether even more serious damage will occur will become clear over the next few days.