A technical malfunction was the immediate cause of the grounding of passenger-car ferry Amorella – investigation by Safety Investigation Authority, Finland, is ongoing

As a result of a technical malfunction of Amorella’s power control equipment, the pitch of the right propeller moved independently into a full reverse position as the vessel approached the narrow Hjulgrund passage. The vessel’s abnormal behaviour was noticed on the bridge, and the crew reacted immediately. However, the vessel continued to turn right towards the edge of the fairway area, which led to the first time of touching ground southeast of Hjulgrund. Because the vessel’s bow draught increased and the vessel was listing to the right, the master decided to steer the vessel to the shore of Järsö Island in order to stabilise the situation.

The Safety Investigation Authority requested executive assistance from the Finnish Defence Forces with the underwater documentation of the area where the accident occurred. A boulder was found on the northern edge of the fairway area, and the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency conjectured in its own investigation that it had moved there as a result of Amorella’s grounding. The rocks had traces of rust and paint from Amorella. After this, the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency removed the boulder by blasting, the fairway draught was confirmed and the fairway was opened for traffic again on 2 October 2020.

The investigation of the Safety Investigation Authority into the grounding continues. According to the investigation plan, the investigation report will be published in the summer of 2021.

Further information:

Risto Haimila, Investigator-in-charge, tel. +358 2951 50730

Veli-Pekka Nurmi, Director, Professor, tel. +358 2951 50701