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More than 300 Stena Line ferry passengers are stranded aboard a ship overnight in Liverpool after six crew members tested positive for Covid.
- Six crew members tested positive for coronavirus on the Stena Line ferry
- The ship was supposed to travel to Belfast, but has been held up in Liverpool overnight.
- Passengers will now need to disembark at Birkenhead Port, Merseyside
- Are you currently on the Stena Line ship? Email [email protected]
More than 300 passengers have been trapped aboard a Belfast-bound ferry overnight after six crew members tested positive for coronavirus.
15 other people who came into close contact with the infected crew have also been told to self-isolate.
All those confirmed to have the virus have mild symptoms and are said to be ‘fine’, the ferry company confirmed.
Passengers on the Stena Line ship were due to leave Liverpool at 10.30pm last night aboard the Stena Edda ship overnight.
But while many woke up expecting to have arrived in Northern Ireland this morning, they realized that they had not moved from the port of Birkenhead, Merseyside.
Over 300 passengers have been stranded in Liverpool aboard a Belfast-bound ferry overnight after six CRW members tested positive for coronavirus
The ship carrying 322 passengers and 53 crew members was due to depart for Belfast at 10:30 pm.
The incident took place in the Stena Edda car on the ferry line and on the passenger ship.
The ship was detained in Birkenhead by port health authorities due to the outbreak.
The ship carrying 322 passengers and 53 crew members was detained in Merseyside by port health authorities due to the outbreak.
A Stena Line spokesperson confirmed that none of those affected were passengers.
They told Mail Online: ‘Stena Line can confirm that 6 crew members of the Stena Edda tested positive for COVID-19 last night.
“In accordance with our security protocols, we alerted the port health authorities, who advised us to hold the ship at Birkenhead as a precautionary measure.
Everyone confirmed to have the virus is said to be ‘fine’, the ferry company confirmed
Six crew members tested positive for the virus and 15 others were told to self-isolate
A Stena Line spokesperson confirmed that none of those affected were passengers
The passengers are understood to disembark in Liverpool again this morning, but photos show that there are still many people on board.
“The well-being of our passengers and crew is paramount at this time,” said a statement from Stena Line.
On board there are 322 passengers and 53 crew members. All six crew members who tested positive for COVID-19 are being treated and are doing well, with only mild symptoms. 15 self-isolating close contacts have been identified.
Stena Line is communicating closely with public health authorities on this matter, who have advised us to disembark the ship at Birkenhead.
“The well-being of our passengers and crew is paramount at this time.”
People, including the Stena Line crew, can be seen from shore aboard the ship wearing masks.
The Liverpool-Belfast ferry is docked in the port of Berkenside in Liverpool, Merseyside
People took to social media to express their frustrations on the ferry line after waking up in Liverpool
It came after six crew members tested positive for coronavirus aboard the ferry.
Passengers are understood to have started disembarking around 9 a.m. this morning.
Passengers reacted to the news angrily and took to social media to express their frustrations.
An irate passenger posted on Twitter: ‘Well this ferry really is overnight. Still in Liverpool.
What’s going on Stena Line? No information or crew found.
A person on board the ship said he had received little information and that there were no crew around.
This man woke up in Liverpool to find that the ferry had not approached its destination.
One wrote: On the ship from Liverpool to Belfast, it was scheduled to take off at 10.30pm and you just said that after five hours on this ship we have to wait until 9am to disembark.
“Sitting in a boat for 12 hours and no closer to home and no way to get there.”
Stena Line has confirmed that they will help passengers with more travel arrangements after their crew tested positive.
They said: ‘The passengers are being cared for and we will help them with alternative travel arrangements.’
Ships have been a focal point for Covid concerns after outbreaks on cruise ships left passengers and crew stranded on board at the start of the pandemic.
