Summary
- Mein Schiff 3 collided with two container ships while departing Bremerhaven.
- No injuries were reported among 2,428 passengers and 922 crew.
- The planned Canary Islands voyage was cancelled for urgent repairs.
Collision interrupts departure
TUI Cruises cancelled Mein Schiff 3’s planned Canary Islands voyage after the cruise ship collided with two container vessels while departing Bremerhaven, Germany, on Sunday evening. The ship returned to Columbuskaje and passengers later disembarked. [1] [2]
The cruise line confirmed that no one was injured. There were 2,428 passengers and 922 crew members aboard. The vessel remained in Bremerhaven as technical teams assessed the damage. [1] [2]
Strong winds and two moored vessels
Authorities said stormy conditions and a gust of wind affected the departure despite tug assistance. The cruise ship made contact with a smaller container ship and then the larger MSC Victorine, according to reports citing police and German media. [1] [2]
Mein Schiff 3 sustained damage to lifeboats, their associated cranes and its outer hull. MSC Victorine suffered a lengthy opening in its side and damaged container guides. The damage was above the waterline, and no water ingress was reported on any of the vessels. [1] [2]
Repairs cannot be completed at sea
TUI said the damage required urgent work at a shipyard and could not be addressed while continuing the voyage. The cancelled itinerary had been scheduled to last about three weeks and include Portugal, the Canary Islands, Morocco and Spain. [1] [2]
The company apologized to customers and said the cancellation was necessary to maintain safety standards. Restaurants and other onboard venues remained available while passengers stayed aboard overnight after the incident. [1]
Investigation and future schedule pending
Bremen’s water protection police are investigating the cause, and a departure ban was imposed on the three vessels. The precise sequence and full extent of damage had not been conclusively established in the initial reports. [1] [2]
TUI has not determined whether subsequent cruises will be affected. It said booked guests would be informed once the technical assessment provided reliable answers. [1] [2]
Reporting sources
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