Estonia, Latvia, Markets and Companies, Port, Tourism, Transport

Tallink representatives said that at about 3.40 a.m. this morning the storm broke the ferry’s radar antenna, which fell and shattered one of the ship’s front portholes. The Romantika is continuing her voyage to Riga.

“The ship’s damaged porthole is located in the forepart of the vessel, in the Tango bar on the sixth deck, and water has mostly damaged only this room. Some cabins on the fifth deck were also slightly affected by water and passengers were immediately provided with other cabins. The inflow of water into the ship was minimal and never posed any safety risks to the people,” the ferry company’s representatives said, adding that the situation is fully under control and that the crew is constantly monitoring the ship’s damaged part.

Tallink representatives also noted that the cause of the accident would be investigated.

The company’s representatives also said that the ferry’s captain last night decided to change the time of departure from Stockholm port to avoid an even greater impact from the storm.

There are currently 277 passengers and 178 crewmembers aboard the Romantika.

The ferry operator has apologized to all the passengers affected by the accident. The time of the ferry’s arrival in Riga will be announced as soon as possible.

The Romantika, built in Finland in 2002, resumed running between Riga and Stockholm on December 12, 2016. The vessel has room for 2,500 passengers.