Ferry service suspended amidst illness concerns
Ferry Online Travel News 10/06/2010
Lifeline ferry service halted after sickness of 3 crew members follows 11 ill passengers.
One of two ferries providing much-needed services between Aberdeen and Lerwick has been taken out of service after 14 people who traveled on the vessel developed sickness and diarrhea. The problem started when people in a coach party started getting ill shortly after the Northlink ferry MV Hjatland left Lerwick on Friday.
The ferry heading for Aberdeen stopped in Kirkwall with 11 of the passengers having become ill. Medical staff allowed the journey to continue with the sick passengers confined to their cabins. Later, three members of the ferry’s crew developed similar Norovirus-type symptoms on Sunday. This prompted officials to take the ferry out of service to stop further spread of the illness.
The coach party is thought to have carried the illness onto the boat on Friday. The disease is not thought to pose a serious health risk but Northlink boss Bill Davidson said the company was erring on the side of caution and had decided to act when the new cases of illness had cropped up amongst members of the ship’s crew.
The MV Hjatland has been put under quarantine for 48 hours. While the ferry is out of operation, its sister ship, the MV Hrossey, has been drafted into provide a shuttle service between Aberdeen and Lerwick. The Hjatland should re-enter service from tonight.
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