Cruise ship collides with 2 container vessels during stormy weather

A cruise ship collided with two container vessels during stormy weather in northern Germany.

Authorities said a gust of wind caused the cruise ship to drift toward the two container vessels while it was in the port city of Bremerhaven on Oct. 25. There were “very strong winds across the North Sea into coastal Germany and Denmark on Sunday due to Storm Boelo passing near the Shetland Islands,” AccuWeather told USA TODAY in an email, with reports of gusts around 74 mph near Germany’s northwest coast.

“The smaller container ship sustained minor damage, while the larger one suffered considerable damage,” the Bremen Police said in a translated news release. “The collision tore open several meters of the port side of the larger container ship and deformed the container guides.” The damage was “several meters above the waterline.”

TUI Cruises confirmed the cruise ship was Mein Schiff 3. “Immediately following the incident, technical teams and experts began a thorough inspection of the ship,” the company told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. “The damage identified requires urgent repair work to be carried out at a shipyard.”

Eye-tracking study reveals the top 20 most stunning cruise ports

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From ports decorated with centuries-old architecture to sunlit turquoise bays, a new eye-tracking study revealed the world’s most beautiful cruise ports, with three Caribbean spots making the top 20.

The research, conducted by travel insurance experts at AllClear, used eye-tracking technology to measure which of the world’s travel hotspots are the most impressive to arrive at by sea. They measured which cruise ports caught people’s attention first, and held it the longest, revealing the world’s most captivating coastal arrivals.

1. Valletta Cruise Port, Malta

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, our study’s most beautiful cruise port is a masterpiece in harbour aesthetics. Its combination of golden limestone reflecting off the glistening water provides the ultimate, jaw-dropping arrival into this exciting Mediterranean city, and with the longest fixation time of any port in the study, Malta certainly earned its place as our number one. What cruisers will love: Walk into the historic town in just 15 minutes and explore St. John’s Co-Cathedral with its Baroque artwork, or head to the Upper Barrakka Gardens for panoramic views of the harbour itself.

(DANIEL SLIM, AFP via Getty Images)

The cruise ship “sustained considerable damage to its lifeboats, associated cranes, and hull,” per police. The cruise operator said no guests or crew were injured, and authorities said there were no injuries aboard either container ship.

The maritime safety authority issued a departure ban for the three vessels, according to police, and TUI Cruises canceled Mein Schiff 3’s planned cruise to the Canary Islands.

“We know how much our guests were looking forward to this cruise and deeply regret the inconvenience this causes,” TUI said. “At the same time, we are convinced that this is the only responsible decision to ensure our high safety standards are maintained.”

Investigations are ongoing.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cruise ship collides with 2 container vessels during stormy weather

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