UTSIRA

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Allision in Haugesund

The 'Utsira' which runs between the island of Utsira and Haugesund in Rogaland allided with a pier in Utsira in the morning of Dec 20, 2019. The ferry was breached and had to be sidelined in Haugesund, and traffic between Haugesund and Utsira has been canceled for the time being. The ferry 'Fjordøy', which usually operates the Feøy connection now was sent to Utsira, but has greater wave height restrictions than the 'Utsira' has. A lifeboat with divers was called to investigate the hull damage more closely.

Ferry disabled by tire and rope

The ferry service between Haugesund and Utsira was stalled after the "Utsira" suffered engine failure on Jan 14, 2013, around 8 p.m. short after having left the the dock at Garpaskjær in Haugesund. With a loud bang all power was cut off, and the ferry got out of control. While the crew still tried to drop the anchor, ran it drifted from the pier at Risøy towards Hasseløy and finally slammed into the dock of the local Sjøfartdsdirektoratet and a docked supply vessel. No one was injured aboard the ship which did not carry passengers at that time, but there was significant damage to the pier, and the ferry hull was damaged above the waterline. The lifeboat "Bergen Kreds" towed the disabled ship to the quay where the crew started the necessary technical inspections to get the ship repaired at a nearby yard as soon as possible. Divers were sent down and found a tire and a chain which blocked the propulsion gear to have been the cause of the accident. Such obstuctions are usual at piers in the Smeda Sound as they are used to fender off boats. The ferry operators hoped to be able to offer a service to and from the Utsira until the morning of Jan 15 in spite of the accident. The first sailing to Utsira at 6.30 a.m. had, however, to be cancelled, lateron the whole ferry service on that day. The ferry "Røværfjord" was prepared to start on the route as soon as possible. The "Røværfjord" had to be approved by the Norwegian Maritime Directorate to operate in winter before it could be inserted. Norwegian reports with photos and video: http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/rogaland/haugaland/1.10872944 http://www.h-avis.no/nyheter/utsirabaten-gar-ikke-i-dag-1.7722811

Allided with pier, Haugesund, Norway

At around 20:00 LT Jan 14 ferry Utsira suffered engines failure after unmooring from the berth in Haugesund, Norway, drifted and allided with the pier, damaging both the pier and the hull. Rescue boat Bergen assisted Utsira to dock. There were no passengers on board, vessel is to undergo repairs before returning to line. See photos at http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/rogaland/haugaland/1.10872944