Canary Islands cruise cancelled after ship crashes into two container vessels

Thousands of holidaymakers have had their travel plans thrown into doubt after a cruise ship heading for the Canary Islands collided with two container vessels while leaving port in Germany. The Mein Schiff 3, operated by TUI Cruises, was involved in the incident at Bremerhaven on Sunday, 25 October. 

The ship was due to begin its Canary Islands cruise, but the collision left it needing repairs and the voyage was cancelled. More than 3,300 passengers including crew were on board. No injuries were reported, and initial reports said the ship had not taken on water.

Strong winds pushed ship into container vessels

The accident happened at around 5.30pm local time as the cruise liner was leaving port with the assistance of tugboats. According to Bremen Police, a sudden gust of wind caught the vessel and pushed it towards two container ships moored alongside the quay. The impact damaged all three ships, although the extent of the damage varied considerably. The larger container vessel suffered substantial structural damage, with a tear several metres long in its port-side hull and damage to the guides used to position containers. The smaller vessel sustained lighter damage. 

The cruise ship also suffered significant damage to its outer hull, lifeboats and the cranes used to launch them. It returned to the terminal with tugboat assistance after the collision. Although the damage was serious, there were no reports of flooding on any of the three vessels. The damaged sections of the larger container ship were also several metres above the waterline, according to police reports. 

Passengers told to leave the ship

Unfortunately for the 2,428 passengers on board, the immediate plan became getting home rather than continuing their holiday. TUI Cruises confirmed  this afternoon that the planned Canary Islands voyage could not go ahead because the ship needed urgent repairs at a shipyard. The company said the cancellation was a difficult decision but the responsible course of action in view of the damage. Passengers were informed of the cancellation and began leaving the ship on Monday morning.

A total of 922 crew members were also on board when the collision happened.  The voyage had been scheduled to last around three weeks, with the Canary Islands as its destination. For those who had booked flights, accommodation or other arrangements around the cruise, the cancellation may also mean dealing with travel plans beyond the ship itself. TUI’s published statements confirmed the cruise cancellation, but did not establish what individual passengers might be able to claim for separate bookings.

Police investigating the collision

The three vessels have been prohibited from leaving port while the damage is being assessed. Bremen’s water police are investigating how the accident happened, including the circumstances in which the cruise ship was leaving the harbour in difficult weather. German media also reported that police had opened proceedings against the captain of the Mein Schiff 3 over a possible regulatory offence. This does not establish that the captain was at fault, and the investigation will need to determine the circumstances of the collision. 

The incident also raises questions about how ships manoeuvre in strong winds, even when tugboats are helping them leave port. However, the precise sequence of events and whether any rules were breached remain matters for investigators. For passengers hoping to start their cruise to the Canary Islands, the immediate outcome is clear: this departure has been cancelled, and the Mein Schiff 3 must undergo repairs before it can return to service. TUI Cruises has not confirmed how long the repairs will take or whether future scheduled trips will be affected.