Mein Schiff 3 Returns to Bremerhaven After Container Ship Collision
The container vessel was identified as the 366-metre MSC Victorine, built in 2023 and registered in Liberia, while water police opened an investigation.
TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 3 returned to its berth in Bremerhaven, Germany, after colliding with a container vessel while departing on a 20-day Canary Islands voyage on Sunday, October 25, 2026. The cruise ship was carrying 2,428 passengers and 922 crew members; neither the operator nor police reported injuries.
The number of vessels involved remained unresolved. Police initially described a two-ship collision before saying three vessels had been involved, while TUI Cruises said its ship had collided with one container vessel.
Specialists were assessing the damage at the pier, and passengers were permitted to stay aboard, a TUI Cruises spokeswoman said. The full extent of the damage had not been established.
Lifeboats damaged during the collision
Eyewitness footage verified by dpa showed the cruise ship departing with tugboat assistance in choppy water. It moved closer to a container ship moored along the harbour wall before striking it. Debris was visible after the impact, along with damage to Mein Schiff 3 and its lifeboats.
The container vessel struck was MSC Victorine, a 366-metre ship operated by Mediterranean Shipping Company. It was built in 2023 and is registered in Liberia.
Local newspaper Nordsee-Zeitung reported that an opening approximately 10 metres long had been torn in a container ship’s side.
Christian Breden, who watched the departure from the quay after taking his parents to the cruise ship, told BILD that they had described shaking and jolting aboard after the impact.
“They said there was a bang like they had never experienced before,” Breden told the newspaper.
Departure during stormy weather
Mein Schiff 3 left at approximately 5:10 p.m. local time. The collision occurred around 20 minutes later. Storm system Manja was bringing gusty conditions to Germany’s North Sea coast.
Passenger footage showed the vessel moving slowly away from the quay in strong winds before reaching the container terminal. Police had not established the cause of the collision.
The 99,526-gross-ton Mein Schiff 3 entered service in 2014 and measures 293.2 metres, with a published capacity of 2,506 passengers.
Water police investigating
“We will provide further information as soon as reliable findings are available,” TUI Cruises said.
Water police opened an investigation, and officers attended the scene late Sunday. Authorities were expected to provide further information on Monday.
