Cruise ship rams two container ships in Bremerhaven

The almost fully occupied cruise ship was scheduled to set off for the Canary Islands early on Sunday evening. An eyewitness video verified by the German Press Agency shows how the cruise ship, accompanied by tugboats, sets sail in clear waves.

The distance to a container ship lying on the harbor wall becomes smaller and smaller, then the cruise ship rams the container ship, the video jerks. Apparently the tugs previously tried to push the ship away from the quay. "I think that's it for the trip," a woman says in the video. Debris can be seen in the pictures. The “Mein Schiff 3” and lifeboats were damaged.

Cruise ship rams two freighters one behind the other

The police speak of significant property damage. No one was injured on any of the ships. No water got in either. According to police, the cruise ship was hit by a gust and then crashed into a smaller container ship. There was minor property damage. But then the cruise ship continued to drift against the larger freighter. According to the port department, this crash caused a ten-meter-long crack in the container ship.

Lifeboats, associated cranes and the hull of the passenger ship were damaged. It returned to the terminal. A ban on departure was imposed on all three ships. The water police are investigating.

More than 3,000 people on board

Tui Cruises confirmed the accident. The “Mein Schiff 3” is back at the pier where the damage caused is being assessed.

There were 2,428 guests and 922 crew members on board at the time of the accident. Everyone could stay on board for the time being, said the spokeswoman. Experts are on site and are investigating the situation. “We will provide further information as soon as we have reliable information.”

Early on Sunday evening there was initially talk of a collision between the cruise ship “Mein Schiff 3” and a container ship. The police later announced that a total of three ships were affected.