German police are appealing for witnesses after stones were thrown onto a boxship from a bridge over the Kiel Canal.

The 1,440-teu Emotion (built 2008) was heading east from Bremerhaven to Gdynia when the incident occurred at Hochdonn on Tuesday night, Boyens Medien reported.

Crew heard a loud noise on deck and saw three people on the railway bridge.

Several large stones were later found on the poop deck and on the wheelhouse.

The vessel is operated by JR Ship Management of the Netherlands.