Mein Schiff 3 Collides With MSC Container Ship in Bremerhaven , Germany
A cruise ship departure manoeuvre ended in a collision at Germany’s Bremerhaven port on October 25, 2026, after strong winds pushed TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 3 into container vessels alongside the quay. The incident caused significant damage to the cruise ship and the 16,520 TEU containership MSC Victorine.
Strong Winds Affect Cruise Ship Departure
The 99,526 GT Mein Schiff 3 was preparing to leave Bremerhaven for a cruise to the Canary Islands, with tugboats assisting the departure manoeuvre. At around 17:30 local time on Sunday, strong winds associated with storm Manja affected the vessel as it approached the quay.
The cruise ship drifted towards two berthed containerships, resulting in a collision with MSC Victorine. According to reports, the impact occurred near the stern of the container vessel.
The Bremen Police confirmed that two containerships were involved in the incident, although TUI Cruises stated that only one vessel had been struck. The extent of the reported involvement of the second vessel, MSC Anne F, remains unclear.
Significant Hull Damage to MSC Victorine
The collision caused considerable damage to MSC Victorine, a Liberian-flagged containership built in 2023. Reports indicate that approximately 10 metres of its port-side hull was torn open above the waterline.
Damage was also reported to container guides, deck structures and containers. Despite the extent of the damage, authorities confirmed that no water ingress occurred.
The collision also damaged several lifeboats, their launching equipment and sections of the hull aboard Mein Schiff 3. Reports further indicated that two assisting tugboats sustained damage during the manoeuvre.
No Injuries Reported
No injuries were reported following the incident. The cruise ship returned to the Columbuskaje terminal with tug assistance, where technical teams began inspecting the damage.
The German maritime safety authority subsequently imposed a sailing ban on the three vessels while investigations and safety assessments continued.
Bremen’s water police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision. The exact cause of the incident and the full extent of the damage have yet to be established.
Canary Islands Cruise Cancelled
Following an initial technical assessment, TUI Cruises confirmed that Mein Schiff 3 would require repairs at a shipyard. The vessel remains in Bremerhaven.
The company cancelled the remainder of the planned voyage to the Canary Islands, citing safety considerations and the need to assess and repair the damage before the ship can return to service.
The incident highlights the challenges of manoeuvring large passenger vessels in strong winds, particularly when operating close to berthed ships in confined port areas. The investigation is expected to establish how the vessel drifted towards the container ships and whether weather conditions, manoeuvring decisions or other factors contributed to the collision.
