Time to renew the ferry fleet

National transport company Strandfaraskip Landsins’ ferries are old and worn out, and repair work is no longer enough – they need to be replaced.

So says Strandfaraskip Landsins CEO Hilmar Eliasen in the wake of the sudden leak on Nólsoy ferry Ternan, only three months after its regular maintenance check.

This is not a new problem. A recent analysis found that new ferries are required for at least five routes: Nólsoy, Kallsoy, Fugloy & Svínoy, Hestur and Skúvoy.

A compounding problem

Eliasen backs up this analysis, saying that only two ferries, Smyril and Teistin, meet today’s requirements.

The poor condition and the often-visible wear-and-tear of the ferries is partly due to difficulties with maintenance work.

“With new ships, there is usually planned maintenance work that is relatively easy to perform,” says Eliasen. “With old ships like ours, maintenance work often becomes random, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to find spare parts.”

Translated by prosa.fo