Passengers stranded after Dublin Swift ferry hits whale
Hundreds of travellers were stranded at a port today after their vessel struck a whale.
The travel plans of 4,000 ferry passengers have been disrupted after Irish Ferries confirmed its Dublin Swift service would be grounded for two days.
The incident happened as the vessel approached Holyhead at 2pm.
The collision comes just days after a wildlife show studying whales and dolphins in the Irish Sea was broadcast live from an Irish Ferries crossing.
The Dublin Swift left Ireland at 12.30pm today carrying 490 passengers, plus staff, on board. No-one was injured during the incident, with all travellers arriving at the destination safely.
A spokesman for Irish Ferries said today's return journey - which was due to depart Holyhead at 3.15pm - and tomorrow's sailings have been cancelled indefinitely.
He said the 4,000 passengers booked on the sailings will be accommodated on the company's car ferry.
“As the vessel was approaching Holyhead it suffered some sort of soft impact and we believe it may have hit a whale or another underwater mammal,” he said.
“As a consequence of that impact, and for precautionary operational measures, we have had to take the vessel out of service.
“Divers will be sent down to access how much damage, if any, has been done and we expect that will take around two days to complete.
“Depending on the outcome of that investigation, and whether or not repair works have to be carried out, that time scale could be shorter or longer.”
Passengers due to sail can call information lines in Ireland on 0818 300400 and UK 08705 171717.
