12 March, 2008

A PASSENGER on the NorthLink ferry Hrossey had to be taken to the Gilbert Bain Hospital yesterday morning (Tuesday) after sustaining an ankle injury when the vessel rolled heavily in the early hours en route from Aberdeen to Lerwick.

The ferry company confirmed yesterday that 14 cars were damaged as a result of what was described as encountering "an unusual combination of wind, wave and swell which made her roll heavily".

A NorthLink spokesman said: "There was just a single serious roll and the journey continued without incident thereafter.

"So far as the vehicles are concerned, three appear to have been quite badly damaged while 11 others sustained less serious damage.

"Passengers with damaged cars have been issued with details of NorthLink's insurers. The insurers have said that they will provide a dedicated claims handler so that claims can be processed as quickly as possible."

As a result a passenger sustained a minor ankle injury. Several cars and two gaming machines also sustained damage. The wind was blowing Force 8 at the time of the incident.

Tidal conditions at Aberdeen on Monday night meant that the vessel with 108 passengers on board only left Aberdeen at 11.45pm, some five hours later than scheduled.

The incident happened four hours into the journey. She docked in Lerwick at 9am yesterday morning.

The spokesman added: "A severe roll involving damage to vehicles is a very unusual occurrence and we've been operating these routes, sometimes in much more severe weather conditions, since 2002.

"We are, though, carrying out an internal inquiry in an attempt to determine just exactly what caused the vessel to roll as she did."