Cruise Ship Mein Schiff 3 Collides with Container Ships in Bremerhaven
The incident occurred during stormy weather as the vessel attempted to leave the port, resulting in no reported injuries among the thousands on board.
The cruise ship Mein Schiff 3 collided with container ships in the port of Bremerhaven during stormy weather conditions. According to local police, the accident took place as the cruise liner was departing the harbor. Initial reports varied regarding the exact number of vessels involved, with police later stating that a total of three ships were impacted by the collision.
TUI Cruises, the Hamburg-based cruise line, confirmed the accident. A company spokesperson stated that there were no injuries reported and that all 2,428 guests and 922 crew members could remain on board for the time being. However, while the police and eyewitness accounts indicated multiple ships were involved, the TUI spokesperson maintained that the vessel only collided with a single container ship.
Following the incident, the Mein Schiff 3 returned to the pier, where experts gathered to assess the situation and inspect the damage. The exact cause of the accident and the full extent of the damages remain unclear while the water police continue their investigation.
A verified eyewitness video captures the event, showing tugboats assisting the cruise ship as it navigates through significant wave action. The footage depicts the gap between the cruise liner and a moored container ship narrowing until the vessels make impact, with debris visible on the images. According to reports from the Nordsee-Zeitung newspaper, the side wall of a container ship was ripped open over a length of approximately thirty feet.
Additional damage was sustained by the cruise ship itself, including harm to its lifeboats. Storm Eunice or storm conditions brought by Storm Manja have been affecting the North Sea coast with strong gusts. Authorities are still determining whether the planned voyage of the Mein Schiff 3 to the Canary Islands will be able to proceed as scheduled.
The regional weather conditions also prompted broader concerns along the German North Sea coast, where the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency issued warnings regarding a potential storm surge. Meanwhile, emergency responses were triggered elsewhere in the region, including the rescue of a crew from a disabled cargo ship near the Dutch coast.
Sources
- „Mein Schiff 3“ kracht in Bremerhaven in MSC-Containerriesen tageblatt.de
- "Mein Schiff 3" kollidiert in Bremerhaven mit Containerschiffen ndr.de
- Bremerhaven: Kreuzfahrtschiff kollidiert mit zwei Containerschiffen im Hafen spiegel.de
- Sturm "Manja" - Kollision im Hafen von Bremerhaven, Frachtschiff vor niederländischer Küste manövrierunfähig deutschlandfunk.de