The 83 meter long paddlewheel steamer Goethe suffered an engine room fire while off Oberwesel, Germany. The fire started when an oil pressure hose broke loose in the engine room. Damage to the engine room was slight, but there was heavy smoke. On board were 174 passengers who had to disembark due to the smoke. No one on board was injured. The Goethe was built in 1913 and was the largest paddle wheel steamer until it’s steam engine was replaced with a diesel in 2008. It is the only paddlewheel steamer still in operation on the Rhine River.
