Norröna back at Holmsgarth after four years

The Smyril Line ship Norröna is in Lerwick Harbour today for the first time for four years.

Making a majestic appearance at Holmsgarth, the Faroese vessel, which is still partly owned by Shetland, is in the isles as part of a North Atlantic mini-cruise from Hirtshals, Denmark, calling at Torshavn, Kirkwall and Lerwick. The 163-metre Norröna, carrying predominatly German passengers, will depart tonight at 8pm, after an 11-hour visit.  

As she berthed the NorthLink ferry Hrossey went on exercise. She discharged as normal at 7.30am but then left Holmsgarth to carry out a training routine. After vehicles came off the Norröna she moved off the berth and Hrossey resumed her normal place.

The last time Norröna was in Lerwick was in November 2007, when she came in for repairs after sustaining damage in bad weather between Bergen and Torshavn.

The ferry had 244 passengers and around 80 crew on board when she suffered a blackout and engine failure after the propeller lifted out of the water in 12-metre waves. Power in two of the four engines was lost and the other two went onto low power.

Upon inspection at Lerwick it was discovered that one of the vessel’s stabilisers had forced a hole in the hull about 20 centimetres below the water line and the vessel was taking on a fair amount of water.

Twelve cars were crushed when 10 chains holding a trailer snapped. A further 80 cars were damaged when the vessel started rolling. No-one was hurt in the incident.