The cruise ship Mein Schiff 3 returned to its berth in Bremerhaven on Sunday, October 25th, after colliding with a container ship while departing in stormy weather. No injuries were reported among the 2,428 passengers and 922 crew members on board, but damage to the vessel and several lifeboats raised uncertainty over its planned Canary Islands cruise.
The incident occurred while tugboats were assisting the ship’s departure. Video footage verified by German news agency dpa showed Mein Schiff 3 approaching a moored container ship before making contact. The cruise ship subsequently returned to the Columbuskaje terminal for a damage assessment.
Reports on the extent of the incident differed initially. Police said three vessels were affected, including Mein Schiff 3 and two container ships, while TUI Cruises confirmed contact with one container ship. German broadcaster Tagesschau, citing Bremen’s port authority, reported a tear approximately ten metres long in one container ship’s side, along with damage to two tugboats. No water ingress was reported on the affected vessels.
Strong gusts associated with Storm Manja were affecting Germany’s North Sea coast at the time. However, the weather’s precise role in the collision had not been established, and water police were investigating the cause. TUI Cruises said further information would be provided once reliable findings from the damage inspections became available.
Mein Schiff 3 had been scheduled to depart on a 20-day Canary Islands cruise, returning to Bremerhaven on November 14th. Passengers initially remained on board while inspections were conducted. As of October 26th, no official decision had been announced on whether the voyage would proceed, be modified or be cancelled.
For more Mein Schiff 3 incidents and accidents, see the ship's CruiseMinus page.