Strong winds are stopping cruise ships from docking at Visby port.

”"There will be quite strong gusts of over twelve meters per second. It is a restriction from the Swedish Maritime Administration," says Fredrik Wallerström, acting port manager at Region Gotland, to Aftonbladet.

The restriction applies to larger cruise ships, as there is a risk of damage to both the quay and the ship.

The Silja Symphony with 1,800 passengers was supposed to arrive in Visby this morning, but the passengers had to stay on board. According to Aftonbladet, the ship was only a few hundred meters from the port when the message came that it was not possible to dock in Visby.

Tallink Silja has decided to change its route and instead go to Åland.

The Öland ferry has also been cancelled due to strong winds, reports SVT News Småland.

SMHI has issued a class 1 warning over the central Baltic Sea, and the ferry line between Oskarshamn and Byxelkrok will be closed from 2 pm on Thursday and all day Friday. Recreational boats and smaller vessels are also warned not to venture out. Gusts of up to 26 meters per second are expected over northwestern Öland.

Source: TT