Public transport company reported to the police

The SSL management is putting lives at risk by allowing replacement ferry Erla Kongsdóttir to serve the Tórshavn-Nólsoy route in harsh weather.

So says Maud Wang Hansen, one of the Nólsoy residents who have reported SSL to the police after a window inside the ferry’s passenger cabin cracked yesterday morning on its way to Tórshavn.

This is the second time in less than three months that windows crack in the ferry’s passenger cabin, causing great distress to the passengers on board.

“By allowing this ferry to continue without providing an accident report on why it happened the first time, SSL is putting the health and lives of its passengers at risk,” says Hansen.

“Luckily, no-one was physically harmed in either of the incidents, but many people have been severely traumatised.” 

 >> SEE ALSO Ferry access problem causes outrage in Nólsoy

Responding to the criticism, Hilmar Eliasen, the CEO of SSL, says that Mykines ferry Jósup will immediately be deployed on the Tórshavn-Nólsoy route as a replacement until regular Nólsoy ferry Ternan’s maintenance repairs are completed.

Agreeing with Nólsoy residents that Erla Kongsdóttir is unsuitable in the winter months, he adds that a renewal of the entire ferry fleet is long overdue.

SSL is now planning to request government funding for a new Nólsoy ferry. However, finance minister Jørgen Niclasen said today that such funding is unlikely to be granted any time soon, and Ternan will continue on the Nólsoy route for a few more years.

Read the Faroese version of this article here

Translated by prosa.fo

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