TUGBOATS STRUGGLE, SHIPS COLLIDE: Passenger Video Captures Cruise Liner Hitting Container Ship

 

It was supposed to be the start of a 20-night Canary Islands getaway, but it ended in a crash at the dock. On the evening of October 25, TUI Cruises' Mein Schiff 3 collided with the MSC container ship Victorine as it left the port of Bremerhaven, Germany, amid strong winds and rough seas. The impact tore a hole of roughly 10 meters, or about 33 feet, in the container ship's side above the waterline. No water ingress was reported. Passenger video shows tugboats struggling in the choppy conditions as the two vessels made contact.

The cruise ship did not escape unscathed either. Multiple lifeboats and davits on Mein Schiff 3 were damaged, and debris was scattered across the scene. Despite the drama, no injuries were reported among the 2,428 passengers and 922 crew on board. The ship returned to dock for a damage assessment, and its planned Canary Islands itinerary has been canceled. One detail is still unclear: police say three ships were involved overall, while TUI confirms only one container ship. Investigations are continuing, and the exact cause of the collision has not yet been established.