Over 300 ferry passengers kept on ship overnight after crew test positive for coronavirus
The Stena Line ship was held in dock at Birkenhead overnight after six people contracted Covid-19
The Stena Line ferry which runs between Liverpool and Belfast
Credit: Peter Powell
More than 300 ferry passengers have been kept on a ship overnight after six members of the crew tested positive for coronavirus.
The Stena Line ship, due to travel from Merseyside to Belfast, was held in dock at Birkenhead overnight on Tuesday. Passengers were due to disembark on Wednesday morning.
A spokesman for the ferry operator said: Stena Line can confirm that six members of the crew of the Stena Edda have tested positive for Covid-19 last night.
Passengers on the Stena Line ship Stena Edda were due to leave Liverpool at 10.30pm last night.
But while many woke up expecting to have arrived in Northern Ireland this morning, the irate passengers found they had not moved from the port in Birkenhead, Merseyside.
The vessel, carrying 322 passengers and 53 crew members, was held at the Twelve Quays terminal on the instruction of the Port Health Authorities.
One passenger this morning said many of those on board had resigned themselves to being stuck.
But passengers were disembarked by 11.45am and moved across to the ferry line s Stena Mersey vessel docked next door to continue their journey to Belfast.
Stena Line Liverpool to Belfast ferry held overnight as six crew test positive for coronavirus
322 passengers were left onboard the docked vessel in Birkenhead overnight
Updated
Stena Edda berthed at the company s River Mersey Birkenhead terminal (Image: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
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Birkenhead ferry Covid-19 outbreak: Passengers stranded overnight
Published
More than 300 passengers were stranded on a ferry overnight after crew members tested positive for Covid-19.
The Belfast-bound Stena Line ferry was advised by Port Health Authorities not to leave Birkenhead after six members of staff were found to have coronavirus.
All 322 passengers have now disembarked and the 53 crew members are being tested for Covid-19.
Stena Line said passengers would travel to Belfast on another ferry.
Passenger Alan Cogan said he was waiting for the replacement Stena Mersey vessel to take him home to Northern Ireland, but the delay meant he had to cancel a work video conference meeting.
Stena Line Liverpool to Belfast ferry passengers disembark after Covid-19 outbreak
322 passengers and 52 members of crew remained onboard the docked ship overnight
Stena Edda (Image: Christopher Furlong/ Getty Images)
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