May Parade of the Dresden White Fleet without the Carola Bridge

The traditional May fleet parade on the Elbe to mark the start of the Saxon Steam Navigation (SDS) season in Dresden begins and ends behind the Carola Bridge this year. The four ships moored on the Terrassenufer will pass the partially collapsed structure, which is currently being demolished, without passengers as part of the special regulations for commercial shipping to the starting point, according to the responsible authority.

The total of nine paddle steamers and two saloon ships of the White Fleet are fully booked, said a company spokesperson. A total of 3,000 guests as well as hundreds of onlookers are expected to attend the spectacle, which has been postponed slightly upriver this time due to the bridge collapse.

This time, the historic and modern ships decorated with flags will not set sail in front of the baroque old town backdrop towards Pillnitz, but opposite the Saxon State Chancellery, with live music on board and the sound of steam whistles and thyphones. They dock at the same place again later. On the way, spectators and walkers always greet them along the route, which runs along the banks and castles of the Elbe and under the Waldschlößchenbrücke and Blauem Wunder - a steel bridge that is over 100 years old.

SDS sees loss of passengers for the season due to difficult access

The parade takes place every year on May 1. The Dresden paddle steamer fleet is considered to be the largest and oldest in the world, and the historic ships built between 1879 and 1929 are protected as technical monuments. All routes will also be operated this season, said the SDS spokesperson. "However, we are having problems getting guests to the landing stages." Some trips are therefore very well booked, others less so due to the long journey on board. "We notice that this is already costing us passengers."

On the night of 11 September 2024, around 100 meters of the western traffic line of the Elbe crossing collapsed unexpectedly. Since then, the structure from the GDR era has been closed - and in acute danger of collapse due to further fractures in the prestressed steel construction. The stability of its remains and debris is permanently monitored, and commercial ships can pass through it after registering and obtaining permission.

A special regulation applies for the annual fleet parades on 1 and 17 May at the Dixieland Festival. The steamers are only allowed to pass under it with the necessary crew, "provided there are no further wire breaks before then", said Karsten Wild from the Elbe Waterways and Shipping Authority (WSA).