Круизный лайнер Mein Schiff 3 протаранил два контейнеровоза в Бремерхафене — ущерб на миллионы, пострадавших нет

Seven figures in the damage bill — and zero in the "injured" column. The German cruise ship Mein Schiff 3, leaving Bremerhaven harbour on 25 October, was hit by a strong gust of wind, lost control and collided with two container vessels at the berth of the Stromkaje terminal. The ship was almost fully booked with tourists. Operator Tui Cruises estimates the material damage at a seven-figure sum — according to preliminary data, millions of euros; the report does not mention any deaths or injuries.

What follows is routine, and that routine is exactly what keeps such stories within bounds. The multi-week voyage to the Canary Islands has been cancelled, but Tui Cruises promises passengers a full refund of the trip's cost. On 1 November the cruise ship will move to the berth of the Lloyd Werft shipyard in the same Bremerhaven — the repair base stands next to the accident site, which noticeably shortens the logistics of restoration. The company promises to publish the exact schedule of upcoming tours at the beginning of the week, once experts determine the scope and timing of the work.

For Russian shipowners and cargo flows in European waters, something else matters more: the incident is confined to German jurisdiction. The ship, the operator, the port and the yard are all German; Russia is not involved in this chain and gains no additional risks. The investigation follows a prescribed procedure: Germany's water police have launched an inquiry, and suspicions of an administrative offence have been brought against the captain — the investigation will have to establish whether he violated precautionary measures in navigation. The Bremen port authority separately stressed: the captain always bears personal responsibility for any manoeuvres by civilian vessels in the port water area. Such certainty on the question of "who is responsible" is what makes the rules of the game in the port predictable for everyone who enters it.

Experts are now inspecting the vessel and preparing a plan for further action. According to the schedule, on Sunday, 1 November, the cruise ship will dock at Lloyd Werft for repairs.