Express-5

The 'Express 5' suffered engine problems on Aug 13, which have not yet been resolved as of Aug 15, and therefore the ferry was also sailing slower than usual, because only three of four engines were in operation. The 'Express 5' has been inspected by experts from the engine manufacturer Wärtsila, and replacement of the damaged pump was underway. It has also been decided to carry out an engine cleaning inside, which will be completed during the course of the day. Therefore, the 'Express 5' was expected to be back on four engines on the morning of Aug 16.

The 'Express 5' is expected to be ready for deployment on the afternoon of Dec 17. An internal investigation has determined that it was human error that caused the ferry to hit the port facility on its way out on the last double trip of the day on Nov 25. The ferry subsequently had to turn around and disembark its passengers in Rønne again. While the 'Express 5' has been under repair, the 'Express 1' has served as the main ferry on the route.

The 'Express 5' will leave the dock at the Fayard Yard on Dec 16 after completion of repairs, and it is expected to arrive in port in Rønne around midnight that night. The ferry will then be made ready to resume operations the same day in the afternoon. Actually, the welding work has almost been finished, which means that the yard can start on some of the other tasks. One of them is to paint the ferry including the ship'sbottom. The paint is very important in relation to the ship's ability to slide through the water and reduce the consumption of fuel. It is a special silicone paint that must be applied with great care, in dry conditions and at a certain temperature. The bottom painting is a slow process with many layers and long drying times between the layers.

On Nov 30 the 'Express 5' entered the Fayard Yard in Munkerbo/Odense for permanent repairs and remained stationary as of Dec 4. There was no information on when the repairs will be completed. The 'Express 1' is actually serving as the main ferry on the route. Meanwhile it has turned out that it was a human error that caused the allision with the so-called Flis Quay during the departure from Rønne on the evening of Nov 25, an internal investigation of the incident by the Bornholm line showed. The ferry was seriously damaged due to the hard contact with the pier. No technical causes have been found. Since the weather was normal, the incident has been categorized as human error in the accident report, which has now been submitted to the Danish Maritime Authority.