German investigators rate Mein Schiff 3's Bremerhaven collision a 'serious casualty'
Germany's maritime accident agency gave the Oct. 25 crash its second-highest rating and laid out how storm-force wind pushed the ship into two container vessels.
German investigators have put a formal label on the Mein Schiff 3 accident in Bremerhaven. The Federal Bureau of Maritime Casualty Investigation, known in Germany as the BSU, has classified the Oct. 25 collision as a "serious casualty." That is the second-highest level on the agency's five-step scale, Cruise Industry News reported.
The rating does not assign blame. It means the BSU sees the event as grave enough for a full safety investigation, with a public report to follow.
What happened in Bremerhaven
The BSU's first findings, reported by Schiffe und Kreuzfahrten and Cruise Industry News, lay out the sequence.
On Oct. 25, Mein Schiff 3 left its berth at the Columbuskaje with help from two tugs, Fairplay 82 and Fairplay 91. After the tugs let go, the ship could not gain enough distance from the quay. A west-southwest wind of 10 on the Beaufort scale, which is storm force, pushed against it.
The ship passed close to two other vessels, Ida Rambow and NCL Vestland. It then drifted to starboard and struck two container ships, MSC Anne F and MSC Victorine.
The damage
According to the BSU's account, both Mein Schiff 3 and MSC Victorine suffered serious damage that affected their seaworthiness. MSC Anne F had only minor damage and was able to leave the next evening. Debris, including plastic from destroyed lifeboats, ended up in the water. No one was hurt.
There were 2,428 guests and 922 crew on board Mein Schiff 3 at the time, Cruise Industry News reported.
| Ship | Type | Reported damage |
|---|---|---|
| Mein Schiff 3 | Cruise ship | Serious, lifeboats destroyed |
| MSC Victorine | Container ship | Serious, crack at the stern |
| MSC Anne F | Container ship | Minor, left the next evening |
Schiffe und Kreuzfahrten reported that MSC Victorine had a crack about 10 meters long at the stern. It has been sealed, and the ship is due to sail to Antwerp on Nov. 4.
What the investigation will look at
The BSU will examine the decisions on the ship and at the company to leave port in those conditions. It will also look at outside factors, such as the weather, vessel traffic control and the role of the pilots. The agency has not said who, if anyone, was at fault. It will publish a report once its work is done.
German outlet t-online also covered the new details from the agency.
Repairs and the next cruise
TUI Cruises canceled the ship's Canary Islands trip after the crash, as we reported at the time. Mein Schiff 3 moved to the Lloyd Werft shipyard pier on Sunday, Nov. 1, for repairs, as covered in our earlier update.
The big open question is the next sailing. That is a 14-night "Enchanting Norway" cruise set for Nov. 14 to 28. Before the ship can carry guests again, its lifesaving capacity has to be restored, since lifeboats were destroyed in the crash.
On its current information page, last updated Oct. 29, TUI Cruises said it expected to have more clarity early this week. As of Nov. 3, the page had not posted a new update.
What guests should do
If you are booked on the Nov. 14 Norway cruise, keep an eye on the TUI Cruises information page and your email. Check that the line has your current contact details. If you booked through a travel advisor, ask them to watch for updates too.
For everyone else, the BSU report will be worth reading when it comes out. Its findings on departing in a storm-force wind could shape how lines and ports make that call in the future.
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