Cruise Ship Mein Schiff 3 Collides with Two Container Ships Departing Bremerhaven
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The cruise ship Mein Schiff 3, operated by TUI Cruises, collided with two container ships on the night of Sunday, October 25, while departing the port of Bremerhaven, Germany, amid stormy weather conditions and bound for Spain.
MSC Victorine Among the Vessels Affected
According to the Bremen port authority, one of the container ships involved was the MSC Victorine, flying the Liberian flag, with a length overall of 365.97 meters and a capacity of 16,520 TEU, built in 2023. The identity of the second container ship was not disclosed. The bow of the 293-meter Mein Schiff 3 struck the stern of the MSC Victorine, and one of the vessels suffered a breach approximately 10 meters long. Two tugboats assisting with the maneuver were also damaged.
Videos circulated on social media showed significant damage to the cruise ship, with several lifeboats destroyed. Multiple tugboats were assisting the vessel during its departure from the port, but they were unable to compensate for what appeared to be very strong winds.
Return to Port and Damage Assessment
The Mein Schiff 3 returned to the Columbuskaje terminal for a damage assessment. No injuries or water ingress were reported on any of the vessels involved. The cruise ship had been scheduled to depart at 1700 local time for a 20-day voyage to the Canary Islands, set to conclude back at the German port on November 14, but its departure remained uncertain while damage assessments continue.
Investigation Underway
German maritime police are investigating the incident, and an official cause has not yet been established. Although the maneuver took place amid a storm with strong winds, authorities have not attributed the accident to weather conditions. TUI Cruises issued a statement indicating that, based on information available so far, there are no injuries, and that it will provide further details once reliable findings are available.
