A cruise ship used to take disabled people on holidays on the Rhine has been badly damaged after colliding with a barge in Germany.

The frontal collision happened in the early hours of Saturday near Weeze. None of the 69 passengers, 65 volunteers and 15 crew were hurt, but the ship, MSP Zonneblolem is expected to be out of action for several months.

The ship is the only vessel operated by the Breda-based volunteer organisation De Zonnebloem, which organises accompanied river cruises for around 2,800 disabled passengers a year.

Acting director Marcel van der Kaa said: “We are very glad to be able to say that none of our guests, volunteers or crew members have been injured. Obviously everyone is extremely shocked, but our main concern is for their well-being.”

All passengers are back home in the Netherlands after another specialist travel company, Valys, offered to arranged transport back from Germany. The damaged ship was able to make its way back down the Rhine to Arnhem.

Local authorities have begun an investigation into the collision, while damage experts are assessing the cost of the repairs to the front of the vessel.

“It’s very sad for us to have to tell our volunteers and passengers who were due to travel in the next few months that their trips can’t go ahead,” Van der Kaa said.