Cruise Ship MV Gemini Strikes Pier In Piraeus

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On the morning of 5th September, the cruise ship MV Gemini, operated by Miray Cruises, struck the pier while attempting to dock at the port of Piraeus, Greece.

MV Gemini hull tear
Photo credit: CrewCenter

Preliminary checks suggest the vessel sustained damage to its hull above the waterline.

A crew member, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the ship made contact with the pier during the manoeuvre, leaving a sizeable hole in the side of the hull.

“MV Gemini, while docking in Piraeus, accidentally hit the dock, causing a big hole in its hull. Apparently, the problems are getting worse for this old lady,” the source told CrewCenter.

Port authorities, together with the ship’s technical team, are now evaluating the extent of the damage. Repairs will need to be carried out before the vessel is permitted to return to service.

@crew.center

The cruise ship MV Gemini Collides with Dock in Piraeus-Athens, Greece

♬ original sound – Crew Center

This latest incident adds to a growing list of setbacks for the 1992-built cruise ship.

Back in March, MV Gemini suffered an engine room fire shortly after leaving Piraeus. Smoke was visible on the upper decks, and passengers, along with crew members, were directed to muster stations as a precaution.

MV Gemini hull damage

Although the blaze was extinguished, the ship was forced to limp back to port at reduced speed due to ongoing engine issues.

Following the collision at Piraeus, it is expected that both the Greek port authorities and the vessel’s classification society will require a full inspection before the ship can sail again.

Collisions of This Nature Are Rare

Incidents where large cruise ships strike piers or other vessels are rare, though not unheard of.

In July 2023, Princess Cruises’ Ruby Princess collided with Pier 27 in San Francisco while docking at the end of a 10-night Alaskan cruise.

Both the pier and the ship suffered damage above the waterline, but thankfully no injuries were reported. Passengers recalled a heavy jolt at the time of impact.

Around 16 months after the incident, a report was published that declared the likely cause was the “master not carrying out the approach to the dock as planned to account for the
anticipated current.”

Ruby Princess

The previous year, in May 2022, Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas made contact with a dock extension in Jamaica, again causing only material damage.

Not all incidents involve piers.

On 11 December 2024, Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas was berthed in Nassau, Bahamas, when a yacht reportedly lost power and drifted into the ship’s stern. Witnesses shared videos online showing the smaller vessel’s mast breaking on impact.

The cruise ship itself escaped largely unscathed, and passengers reported only a short delay to departure. Maritime officials classify such an event as an allision (a moving vessel striking a stationary object) rather than a collision between two moving ships.

Other examples include:

  • In 2022, Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas was hit by a cargo ship while docked in Freeport, Bahamas.
  • In December 2019, Carnival’s Glory and Legend collided in Cozumel, Mexico, while both were moored. Carnival Glory sustained significant stern damage, narrowly missing Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas.

While these accidents attract considerable attention, the reality is that modern cruise ships complete thousands of port calls each year without incident.

When allisions or collisions do occur, they are typically the result of difficult manoeuvres in busy harbours, adverse weather, or smaller craft losing control nearby.

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