AIDAperla Drifts Free: 68mph Winds Smash Cruise Ship Into French Quay
The 300-metre cruise ship broke free in Le Havre, cancelling two port calls and stranding 500 passengers on buses.
The German cruise ship AIDAperla broke free from its moorings in the French port of Le Havre on Tuesday afternoon after powerful winds struck the area. The 125,572-gross-ton vessel, operated by Carnival Corporation’s German brand, drifted into the quay wall, causing minor damage before tugs managed to secure it.
The incident occurred around 4:00 p.m. local time as a weather front brought gusts reaching 68 mph. The 300-meter (984-foot) ship, which had docked earlier that morning, snapped its mooring lines and lost two gangways as it moved through the harbor. By 6:30 p.m., authorities had stabilized the vessel, though not before its stern made contact with the concrete berth.
Passengers, who had disembarked for tours to Paris and other destinations, were left waiting on buses while the situation unfolded. Videos circulating online show the AIDAperla turning sideways before colliding with the quay. A small gash in the hull was later reported, though no injuries occurred among the roughly 500 passengers stranded during the incident.
Carnival
“The AIDAperla had been torn loose from the pier by sudden, strong gusts of wind; it was still moored only at the stern. It then turned sideways toward port, and when the wind shifted, it was driven backward into the quay wall…”
— Accident Moment, social media account
The Port of Le Havre temporarily restricted passenger shipping until the lost gangways were recovered. Meanwhile, the ship’s operator announced the cancellation of stops in Zeebrugge and Rotterdam, with the vessel expected to sail directly back to Hamburg on Thursday evening. Passengers were permitted to go ashore in Le Havre until Thursday afternoon.
Assessment and Next Steps: AIDAperla
AIDA Cruises issued a statement emphasizing passenger and crew safety as the top priority. The company confirmed that the AIDAperla would undergo a full inspection upon returning to Hamburg before resuming normal operations. Nearby, TUI Cruises, operator of the Mein Schiff 3, took precautionary measures by deploying extra tugs to secure its own vessel in the port.
While the damage appears limited, authorities continue evaluating the ship’s condition. The incident highlights the challenges posed by sudden weather changes in busy maritime hubs.
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