BREMERHAVEN — An MSC containership suffered a 10-metre hull tear after being struck by a TUI Cruises vessel during a departure manoeuvre at Germany's Bremerhaven port in stormy conditions on Sunday evening, October 25, Splash 247 reported. The berthed MSC Victorine was hit at its stern at around 5:30 pm, shortly after Mein Schiff 3 departed the Columbuskaje terminal with tug assistance, as strong winds associated with Storm Manja affected Germany's North Sea coast.

Source: Splash 247, Oct 26

According to German media reports cited by Splash 247, the collision tore a roughly 10-metre section of the MSC vessel's hull above the waterline, with damage also reported to containers and deck structures. Bremen's port authorities confirmed there had been no water ingress. World Cargo News reported the same 10-metre crack, said Mein Schiff 3 sustained damage to several lifeboats, their davits and the hull, and was towed back to the cruise terminal for a damage inspection.

Source: World Cargo News, Oct 26

2,428 + 922Passengers and crew aboard Mein Schiff 3; no injuries reported (TUI Cruises via Baird Maritime)
~10 metresLength of the tear in MSC Victorine's hull, above the waterline (Splash 247; World Cargo News)
20 nightsLength of the Canary Islands voyage Mein Schiff 3 was starting; World Cargo News says the ship will require shipyard repairs first

TUI Cruises confirmed a collision with one containership and said 2,428 guests and 922 crew members were on board, with no one injured, Baird Maritime reported, adding that guests and crew were permitted to remain aboard while specialists examined the ship. Mein Schiff 3 had been scheduled to begin a 20-night round trip from Bremerhaven to the Canary Islands, returning on November 14, with calls including Lisbon, Funchal, Tenerife and Agadir, Baird Maritime reported.

Source: Baird Maritime, Oct 26

How many ships were hit is disputed

Bremen police said the cruise ship had struck two containerships, although TUI Cruises maintained that only one vessel was involved, Splash 247 reported. The smaller MSC Anne F was also berthed nearby. World Cargo News reported that MSC Anne F sustained significant damage according to port authorities and had been placed under a sailing ban while emergency repairs were assessed, while Splash 247 said Anne F's involvement remained unclear. Two assisting tugboats were also reported damaged during the manoeuvre, both outlets reported.

Source: Splash 247 and World Cargo News, Oct 26

The MSC Victorine, which had been scheduled to proceed to Hamburg, remained in Bremerhaven following the collision. Bremen's water police have launched an investigation, and the exact cause and full extent of the damage have yet to be established, Splash 247 reported. The Nordsee-Zeitung, cited by Baird Maritime, suggested the wind prevented the cruise ship from making headway and that the assisting tugs could no longer push her clear.

Source: Baird Maritime citing Nordsee-Zeitung, Oct 26

What is solid

  • Mein Schiff 3 struck the berthed MSC Victorine at Bremerhaven at about 5:30 pm on Sunday, Oct 25 in Storm Manja winds, tearing about 10 metres of hull above the waterline, damaging the cruise ship's lifeboats, with no water ingress and no injuries among 2,428 passengers and 922 crew (Splash 247; World Cargo News; Baird Maritime)
  • The cruise ship returned to the Columbuskaje terminal for inspection and Bremen's water police are investigating (Splash 247; Baird Maritime)

What is only claimed

  • How many container ships were struck: Bremen police said two, TUI Cruises said one, and MSC Anne F's involvement and damage are reported differently by World Cargo News (significant damage, sailing ban) and Splash 247 (involvement unclear); the voyage's status is also unsettled — World Cargo News says shipyard repairs are required before it can resume, while other reports say TUI had yet to confirm whether the sailing can proceed