Mein Schiff 3 Canary Islands Cruise Canceled After Collision
Bremen Police said a strong gust pushed the cruise ship toward MSC Anne F and MSC Victorine during a tug-assisted departure; no injuries were reported.
TUI Cruises has selected Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven to repair Mein Schiff 3 following its October 25 collision with two container ships while departing the German port. The vessel is expected to move to the shipyard’s pier on Sunday, November 1, the operator confirmed in an October 29 update.
The extent of the damage remains under assessment, leaving the impact on subsequent sailings unresolved. TUI has already canceled the ship’s 20-night Canary Islands cruise because the damage requires shipyard repairs.
Repairs and passenger disruption
Mein Schiff 3 sustained damage to its lifeboats, launching cranes and exterior hull. Specialists examining the vessel in Bremerhaven are determining the full repair requirements.
Because the damage affects lifesaving equipment, TUI said, “it must be ensured before the next voyage that the required lifesaving capacity is available for everyone onboard.”
SOLAS Chapter III and the mandatory International Life-Saving Appliance Code set requirements for survival-craft capacity, arrangement and operational readiness, including launching equipment.
Following the accident, Germany’s maritime ship-safety authority, Dienststelle Schiffssicherheit, prohibited all three vessels involved from departing, according to Bremen Police. Mein Schiff 3 returned to the cruise terminal after abandoning its departure.
The cruise ship was carrying 2,428 passengers and 922 crew members. No injuries were reported aboard any of the vessels, and passengers disembarked on October 26. The canceled roundtrip itinerary had included Lisbon, Funchal, Tenerife and Agadir among its planned calls.
Built by STX Finland and delivered in 2014, Mein Schiff 3 measures 293.2 metres and has a gross tonnage of approximately 99,526. Its published passenger capacity is 2,506.
In its cancellation statement, TUI acknowledged the disruption: “We know how much our guests have looked forward to this trip and deeply regret the associated inconveniences.”
Police examine the departure manoeuvre
Bremen Police said a strong gust pushed the cruise ship toward two container vessels berthed along the Stromkaje quay at approximately 5:30 p.m. Tugboats were assisting the departure at the time. The vessels struck were MSC Anne F and the larger MSC Victorine.
MSC Victorine suffered substantial damage to its port-side hull and container guides. Bremen’s ports department put the hull tear at approximately 10 metres, while police described the smaller container ship’s damage as minor. The damaged areas were above the waterline, and no water entered any of the three ships.
Bremen Water Police are investigating the circumstances of the collision. Authorities also confirmed administrative-offense proceedings concerning whether the cruise ship’s captain breached his navigational duty of care. Those proceedings do not establish negligence. As of October 26, no criminal prosecution had been confirmed.
TUI expects greater clarity at the beginning of next week on whether additional voyages will be affected and plans to notify booked guests and travel partners when further information is confirmed. The ship’s next listed departure is the 14-night “Enchanting Norway” itinerary, scheduled to sail roundtrip from Bremerhaven on November 14–28.
