The 30 meter long passenger vessel Großer Michel ran aground on the Elbe near Hamburg, Germany. The Großer Michel was charted out for a voyage along the Rissen shoreline with 54 passengers.  While off Falkensteiner Ufer, the passenger ship suffered a technical fault and ran aground.

The crew alerted the port authorities that the vessel was aground. The Großer Michel attempted to free itself on the receding tide, but quickly found itself high and dry. Vessels from the water police and local fire brigade arrived on scene a short time later and safely evacuated all the passengers off the vessel. No reports of injuries.

Reports state the Großer Michel was to be refloated on the next high tide. The vessel was to be surveyed for damage.  The water police have launched an investigation into the incident.