A 293-metre cruise ship operated by TUI Cruises has collided with two container vessels while departing the German port of Bremerhaven, leaving all three ships damaged and forcing the cancellation of a planned 20-day voyage.
The incident involving Mein Schiff 3 occurred at about 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, as the cruise liner prepared to sail to the Canary Islands.
According to German broadcaster Tagesschau, citing police, a strong gust of wind pushed the cruise ship towards two container vessels berthed at the port despite assistance from tugboats.
One of the affected container ships, MSC Victorine, reportedly sustained a tear measuring approximately 10 metres along its hull, while several lifeboats and associated equipment on the cruise ship were damaged.
Reports also indicated damage to the second container vessel, although the extent of the damage differed between the ships.
No injuries or water ingress were reported following the collision.
TUI Cruises confirmed that the vessel had returned to its berth for a damage assessment. The company said there were no injuries according to the information available at the time and that further updates would be provided when reliable findings became available.
The cruise liner was carrying 2,428 passengers and 922 crew members when the incident occurred, according to reports citing the cruise operator.
The planned 20-day trip to the Canary Islands was subsequently cancelled after inspections indicated that the vessel required repairs at a shipyard.
German media reports said passengers were informed of the cancellation on Monday, while technical teams assessed the damage.
The Bremen Water Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision. Authorities also restricted the movement of the affected vessels pending further inspections.
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