A car carrier sustained hull damage after an allision with a pier at the site of a decommissioned bridge in the port of Bremerhaven, Germany, earlier this week.
The 2024-built CMA CGM Monza departed her berth in Kaiserhafen Zwei on Tuesday morning during windy and gusty conditions. The master requested additional tug assistance before departure as the vessel prepared to transit the harbor.
The car carrier passed the Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven shipyard and continued northbound through the inner port. Around 02:30 GMT, the vessel reached a narrow section of the fairway near the former swing bridge location, where the structure has already been removed but the pier remains in place.
Strong winds pushed the vessel off course despite tug support. The ship’s starboard side struck the edge of the pier, creating a breach of approximately eight feet in the hull plating above the waterline.
No injuries or pollution were reported. The damage remained above the waterline, allowing the vessel to maintain stability.
Bremen water police issued a sailing ban on CMA CGM Monza and opened administrative proceedings against the vessel’s master. The ship remains in the inner harbor while inspections and repairs are being assessed.
Authorities continue to review navigational conditions in the area, which becomes particularly constrained for large car carriers when wind conditions deteriorate.
