German maritime emergency services and TUI Cruises conducted a large-scale emergency response exercise aboard Mein Schiff 3 in Bremerhaven on Sunday, October 11th, testing procedures for an incident involving multiple casualties on a passenger vessel.
The exercise was jointly organised by the German Central Command for Maritime Emergencies (Havariekommando) and TUI, bringing together ~50 emergency personnel. The training focused on medical assistance, coordination between agencies and psychosocial support in a simulated mass-casualty incident.
The operation marked the third time the two organisations had jointly coordinated this type of exercise, as part of their efforts to strengthen emergency preparedness in the cruise sector.
The scenario began with an initially unclear situation involving injured people aboard the ship. The Havariekommando alerted specialised firefighting units from Cuxhaven and Wilhelmshaven, which deployed to the vessel to assess the situation and provide medical assistance to the simulated casualties. Police authorities also participated, enabling responders to practise communication and operational coordination across organisational and regional boundaries.
A central objective was to assess how emergency services could manage a large number of casualties in the confined and complex environment of a cruise ship. Such incidents require rapid assessment, the effective deployment of specialised personnel and close cooperation between the vessel’s crew and external responders. The exercise also provided an opportunity to review existing procedures and identify areas for improvement in the management of major maritime emergencies.
The drill took place while Mein Schiff 3 was berthed at Bremerhaven’s cruise terminal with passengers on board. Passengers had been informed in advance, allowing the exercise to proceed while normal shipboard operations continued. This arrangement enabled emergency personnel to test their procedures in an operational environment that reflected the conditions aboard a passenger vessel.
Cruise ships present particular challenges during emergencies because of their size, complex internal layouts and the number of people on board. Effective response depends on the capabilities of individual emergency services, as well as clear communication and established coordination procedures between the ship’s crew and responding agencies.
Christian Lerche, TUI’s Director of Fleet Operations and Health, highlighted the importance of testing these interconnected processes under realistic conditions. He explained that an effective emergency response relies on multiple procedures working together, from the initial actions taken by the ship’s crew to the arrival and deployment of external emergency services.
The exercise also addressed maritime psychosocial emergency care, known in Germany as Psychosoziale Notfallversorgung (PSNV). Specialists from the German Seamen’s Mission and other maritime psychosocial support organisations provided simulated assistance to affected individuals both aboard the ship and at the passenger terminal.
This component reflected the broader requirements of a major incident, in which passengers, crew members and others affected may need psychological support alongside medical treatment. By incorporating psychosocial assistance into the scenario, the organisers were able to examine how it could be integrated into the wider emergency management operation.
Sören Makel, deputy head of the Havariekommando, underlined the importance of regularly rehearsing complex emergency scenarios with all relevant partners. He noted that incidents involving large numbers of people require medical treatment, psychosocial care and support from external agencies to function in close coordination.