Scandlines Ferry Back in Service by End June

 

The damaged Scandlines ferry M/V Prinsesse Benedikte is being repaired at the Polish shipyard Remontowa and is expected to be ready before the end of June 2015.
 
Following extensive clear-up and inspection, the Remontowa yard in Gdansk, Poland, together with Scandlines’ on-site team has now started repairs of the Scandlines ferry M/V Prinsesse Benedikte, which was damaged while outdocking on Wednesday 11 March 2015.
 
The ferry was concluding a planned three week yard stay, where among other things the ship had a new diesel engine, radar system, ventilation system, scrubber and underwater coating. During outdocking the floating dock keeled over and the ship slipped from the keel block. As a result the ship fell approx. two meters down and leaned against the wall of the dock with a 13 degree list. At the fall wholes were knocked in the side of the hull, and water penetrated the length of the ship.
 
Scandlines expects the repairs of the extensive damage and the following test phase to last approx. three months. The ferry is expected back in service before the end of June 2015.
 
M/V Prinsesse Benedikte is one of four passenger ferries operating the Puttgarden-Rødby route. The remaining three passenger ferries M/V Prins Richard, M/V Schleswig-Holstein og M/V Deutschland will depart every 40 minutes from both Puttgarden and Rødby until the end of June 2015.
 
The fifth ferry, M/V Holger Danske, transports primarily special cargo on the route, and it has increased the number of daily departures, thereby moving lorries from the three passenger ferries.
 
In order to further increase the capacity Scandlines has chartered M/V Mercandia VIII from HH-Ferries. From Wednesday 8 April, M/V Mercandia VIII will be transporting lorries during peak hours on Tuesdays to Fridays.