Chemical Leak Prompts Ferry Evacuation in Rostock

Firefighters in Rostock, Germany, evacuated passengers and crew from a berthed ferry on 16 Sep 2026 after a hazardous chemical substance leaked on board. The Stena Line-operated Ro-Pax ferry Mecklenburg-Vorpommern was at the Port of Rostock preparing to depart for Trelleborg, Sweden, when the incident occurred. A still unidentified liquid chemical leaked from a rail car embarked on the vessel. All 160 passengers and the majority of the crew were safely evacuated, while the captain and a few other crew members remained on board. Local news outlet NDR reported that four people suffered minor injuries, and some passengers complained of respiratory problems. The extent of the leak had not yet been determined. Emergency services personnel wearing protective equipment boarded the ferry later on Wednesday, and the surrounding port area was declared off-limits as a precaution. The ferry's scheduled 15:00 local time departure for Trelleborg was cancelled as a result of the incident. No further details on the cause of the leak or the vessel's return to service have been released.