Corona confines 300 to ferry overnight

Over 300 passengers, bound for Belfast, were stranded on the Stena Line ferry Edda in Birkenhead last night, reports the Guardian. Port authorities advised the company not to let passengers disembark or to leave Birkenhead, and the 322 passengers and 53 crew were told to stay put.

Stena Line has confirmed today that it is helping passengers find alternative transportation. A passenger on the ferry, Alan Cogan, told the BBC he was waiting for a replacement ferry to take him home to Northern Ireland. The 47-year-old said people were resigned to their predicament and “we’re waiting to see what happens”.

Stena line confirmed that six of its crew members have the virus, but that none were dealing directly with passengers or held onboard service-roles. Tests were distributed to the rest of the crew and disembarkation was completed at 11.45 am today. The positive crew members joined the Stena Mersey and are due to set sail for Belfast on Wednesday.

Stena Line has said the ship will be thoroughly sanitised and added: “The welfare of our passengers and crew is paramount at this time. The passengers are being catered for and we will assist them with alternative travel arrangements.”