Amsterdam ferries inspected after accident

The Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate will investigate the ferry services in Amsterdam following an accident on Sunday in which 13 people were hurt. As soon as the police investigation into the accident is done, the Inspectorate will conduct a broader investigation, Het Parool reports.

A ferry across the IJ, from Amsterdam Noord to Amsterdam Central Station, crashed into De Ruijterkade on Sunday. One passenger was taken to hospital with a broken wrist. A pregnant woman was also taken to hospital for examination. And eleven other people sustained minor injuries.

According to Het Parool, there have been multiple incidents of Amsterdam ferries hitting a quay over the past period. In October a ferry's steering cut out in the middle of the IJ and ferries crashed into other ships several times.

The police believes that Sunday's accident was caused by a technical defect. A breathalyzer test showed that the ferry driver had no alcohol in his system.