Overview
- TUI Cruises and Bremen police confirmed late Sunday that Mein Schiff 3 struck a containership while leaving Bremerhaven and then returned to the Columbuskaje with no reported injuries among the roughly 2,428 passengers and 922 crew.
- Eyewitness video and regional reports show heavy material damage, including destroyed lifeboats on the cruise ship and an alleged roughly 10‑metre rupture to a containership’s hull, while accounts differ on whether one, two or three freighters were affected.
- The German Weather Service issued official warnings for strong to storm‑force gusts in the German Bight and river mouths and tug crews on scene reportedly struggled to keep the ship against sudden wind gusts during the departure maneuver.
- Separately on Sunday a heavy‑lift freighter, UHL Freedom, became temporarily unmanageable off Schiermonnikoog after an anchor or chain failed and propulsion problems arose; several crew were injured and some were airlifted to a hospital in Groningen as Dutch and German rescue services responded.
- Wasserschutzpolizei and technical experts are inspecting damage at the pier, investigations into causes are ongoing, and TUI Cruises says the planned Canary Islands voyage is suspended pending damage assessments, repairs and regulatory clearance.