The ferry Grace, which ran aground in Mariehamn on Åland, has been towed away overnight. Passengers will begin their journey home this afternoon, Viking Line announces.
Grace was pulled free with the help of tugboats and is now in the harbor of Mariehamn.
”"She is lying at her berth in Mariehamn safe and secure. The procedure went very well," says the company's communications director Johanna Boijer-Svahnström.
After spending the night on board, the passengers will be allowed to go ashore during the day where they will be registered by the authorities.
”"Then they will go home to their hometowns on other ships. As for the Swedes, it will be Amorella, which leaves at 2 p.m.," says Johanna Boijer-Svahnström.
None of the passengers were reportedly injured, and the ship did not suffer any major damage.
”"We had divers yesterday and we will dive again and investigate, but there does not appear to be any serious damage. She will be transported within the next few days to Naantali and Turku Repair Yard to be docked. It may be possible that she will be able to drive on her own engines."”
What was behind the accident is now being investigated, but according to Boijer-Svahnström it was likely the severe weather.
”"There were incredibly strong winds yesterday. It can be extremely difficult when there are sudden gusts of wind. It seems to have been something like that. She drifted towards land and got stuck," she says.
Grace was en route from Stockholm via Mariehamn to Turku when she ran aground just meters from land at the port of Mariehamn at 1 p.m. on Saturday. There were 331 passengers and 98 crew on board.
Source.TT
