Stena Line Ferry Evacuated After Hazardous Material Leak in Rostock

A hazardous materials leak aboard the Stena Line ferry Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in Rostock led to a full evacuation and hospital treatment for four exposed crew members, with the ferry's departure canceled.

    Key details

  • • Stena Line ferry Mecklenburg-Vorpommern evacuated due to hazardous liquid leak from train carriage.
  • • Four crew members exposed and hospitalized as a precaution, no symptoms reported.
  • • 209 people aboard at incident, including 168 passengers, none exposed.
  • • Ferry scheduled departure canceled; substance under investigation by emergency services.

On September 16, 2026, the Stena Line ferry Mecklenburg-Vorpommern was fully evacuated in Rostock, Germany, following a hazardous materials leak on board. The incident occurred while the ferry was docked and scheduled to depart at 15:10, carrying 209 people, including 168 passengers. The leak was traced to a liquid substance originating from a train carriage on the ferry's car deck, which is still under investigation by emergency responders.

Four crew members were exposed to the hazardous liquid and were promptly taken to hospital for precautionary checks. According to Johan Live from Stena Line's press service, the exposed crew showed no symptoms. None of the passengers were exposed to the substance. Emergency services, including police, responded swiftly, evacuating everyone from the ferry and moving the passengers to a nearby port building for care and further instructions.

The ferry's planned journey from Rostock to Trelleborg was canceled pending the investigation outcome, and there is currently no timeline for when the vessel will be able to resume its trip. This incident highlights the risks involved in transporting hazardous goods and underscores the quick response of emergency authorities to safeguard passengers and crew.

This article was translated and synthesized from Swedish sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.

Source comparison

Location of the ferry during the incident

Sources report different locations for the ferry during the incident

svd.se

"The ferry was traveling from Rostock to Trelleborg when the leak occurred."

dn.se

"The vessel was docked in Rostock, Germany."

Why this matters: One source states the ferry was traveling from Rostock to Trelleborg, while the other claims it was docked in Rostock. This affects the understanding of the circumstances surrounding the evacuation.

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