The DFDS North Sea ro-pax link between Denmark and England was at a standstill for two weeks after route vessel Sirena Seaways (2002/22,382gt) was holed below the waterline and suffered bow damage after colliding with berthing facilities at Parkeston Quay, Harwich while arriving from Esbjerg in windy conditions on Saturday 22 June.
There were no injuries among 489 passengers and crew members, and disembarkation took place after a delay of four hours. The accident damaged mooring walkways at the berth used by Stena Line’s Hook of Holland route vessels, and the evening arrival of Stena Hollandica was delayed for around four hours, the vessel circling slowly off Felixstowe, while temporary repairs were made at the port.
Sirena Seaways, originally Dana Sirena, and used on the route since completion in Poland during 2002, sailed under her own power to Bremerhaven, entering dry dock at Lloyd Werft the following Tuesday.
DFDS did not bring in a replacement vessel and so passengers and freight customers had to be diverted to other routes. Repairs completed, Sirena Seaways sailed from Bremerhaven to Esbjerg to resume service on 5 July, returning from Harwich as scheduled next afternoon.
