Cruise Ship Crash in Bremerhaven, Captain Being Investigated
German police are investigating the captain of TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff 3 after the vessel struck two container ships while departing Bremerhaven on October 25. The collision led to the cancellation of a 20-night cruise to the Canary Islands, and caused damage estimated at several million euros. Thankfully, no one was injured.
The cruise ship was leaving the German port with assistance from tugboats when a strong gust of wind pushed it into the two container ships, police said. The Mein Schiff 3 first hit a smaller container ship, causing minor damage. It then struck a larger vessel. The vessel returned to the terminal, where checks showed that it needed repairs at a shipyard.
TUI Cruises said 2,428 passengers and 922 crew members were aboard Mein Schiff 3 at the time of the collision.
The ship returned to the terminal with tugboat assistance. Passengers were initially allowed to stay on board while the damage was checked and arrangements were made.
The company later cancelled the 20-night round trip to the Canary Islands, which was scheduled to run from October 25 to November 14. The cruise was due to visit ports in Portugal, the Canary Islands, Morocco, and Spain before returning to Bremerhaven.
Passengers left the ship on Monday, with buses and taxis taking them to their cars or the railway station.
According to cruise industry publications AN BORD and Kreuzfahrt Terminal, passengers would receive a full refund plus 10% off a new booking made by December 31, 2026.
INJURED ON A CRUISE SHIP OR SHORE EXCURSION? CALL A CRUISE SHIP ACCIDENT LAWYER:
Cruise lines are responsible for the injuries that passengers sustain on and off the ship. Florida law is clear that cruise lines have a non-delegable responsibility to make sure that passengers are safe when being transported between the ship and shore.
If you have been injured on a cruise ship, tender or in port, it is important that you seek immediate medical care and report the incident. Cruise lines often defend cases based upon a “lack of reported incident.” Also, immediately consult with an experienced passenger injury lawyer who is admitted to practice in Federal Court.
Aronfeld Trial Lawyers has obtained millions of dollars in compensation for injured cruise ship passengers and crew members onboard the major cruise lines. We are constantly filing lawsuits against Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, MSC, Disney and other cruise lines around the world in Federal Court. Since 1991, our law firm has helped injured passengers hold the cruise lines accountable. We work hard to get our clients compensation for lost wages, medical expenses and pain and suffering. The cruise lines are part of multi-billion-dollar industry and employ the most aggressive and experienced lawyers–which is why you need experienced legal counsel on your side, too.
Injured? Talk to us today.
Tell us what happened. The consultation is free, and you pay nothing unless we recover for you — no attorney’s fees and no costs.
Sending this form doesn’t make you a client or create an attorney-client relationship. Please don’t include confidential details until we’ve spoken.