Police detain ship captain in freak accident that killed 3 Germans

The police arrested a 51-year-old man in connection with three German passengers being killed by a falling front mast on a historic ship on Sunday. The arrested man is both the owner and captain of the ship, the Volkskrant reports. "It is not standard that we arrest a captain after an accident", a police spokesperson said to the newspaper. "But because he is the owner, he is responsible." The police are investigating whether, for example, the ship's maintenance was up to date and whether the captain acted recklessly. This investigation will determine whether the captain will be prosecuted. The victims were three men aged 19, 43 and 48 years from Amberg. They were hit by the falling mast around 1:50 p.m. on Sunday. Paramedics tried to resuscitate them, but to no avail. Their bodies were removed from the ship around 4:30 p.m. No one else was injured. The ship involved is a historic ketch built called Amicitia, which was built in 1898. The accident happened at sea, just before the ship entered the port of Harlingen. A German family of twelve and the captain and his wife were on the ship when the mast suddenly broke free. The Germans hired the ship for a trip on the Wadden sea. This was the last day of their vacation. According to the police spokesperson, victim aid was arranged for the survivors. "One thing is clear. This is a drama for everyone involved", she said to the newspaper.