Hundreds of passengers were caught up in travel "chaos" this morning when they found themselves "trapped" on board a Stena Line ferry.
The Stena Edda, which travels between Belfast and Liverpool, docked in Birkenhead around 6.15am this morning (September 6). However, the 423 passengers on board were unable to get back on dry land for more than four hours after a technical fault meant the ship's stern ramp failed to open.
One passenger told the ECHO there was "chaos" as all vehicles were stuck on the ferry and passengers started to "panic" about missing their connections. Stena Line confirmed the issue would lead to some knock on delays throughout the day, with the Swedish company offering an apology to all passengers affected and hoping to have normal service resumed by tomorrow morning.
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Images shared with the ECHO show people queuing to enter the ship's restaurant, where passengers were offered a complimentary breakfast to compensate for the delays. Despite the inconvenience caused by the incident, passenger Fiona McElroy praised the work of the staff on board to ease people's concerns.
Speaking shortly after 11am this morning, she said: "We’ve just been given the shout and vehicles are now leaving by the ferry. The staff were brilliant - ever so pleasant and helpful. They served everyone a hot cooked breakfast so we’re all fed and watered. A bit of an inconvenience but not so bad with excellent customer service"
A Stena Line spokesperson said: "Unfortunately the stern ramp on Stena Edda suffered a minor mechanical problem where what is called a ‘cleat’ failed to unlock, so the ramp was stuck. It was 9m high up and unfortunately this issue took a while to fix.
"There were 423 passengers onboard, whom we kept informed what was happening and gave them free breakfast, snacks and drinks. We will now attempt to make up the time, but unfortunately there will be some knock on delays to today’s morning departure (set for 14:30) from Birkenhead; this evening’s arrival in Belfast; and the subsequent evening departure again of Edda.
"By tomorrow morning we hope to have made up the time and be back on schedule. We are sorry for the delay to our passengers’ journeys.
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