Working Conditions Aboard the Lovund

On Oct 4, 2015, at 7.15 p.m. the "Lovund", serving the Stokkvågen-Lovund route and being enroute from Sleneset to Onøya, suffered rudder failure at Eikstokk Sound and ran aground in North-Solvær with on the whole 26 persons on board, among them a crew of 10. The express boat "Helgeland" which had been docked in port closed in and pulled the ship off. At 8.05 p.m. the ship reached the ferry pier at Sleneset with its own thrusters, where the 16 passengers have disembarked with the ship remaining there until she could be examined by a diver or towed to a shipyard. A Sea King rescue helicopter was also sent from Bodø to assist, as well as the lifeboat "Uni Helgeland" from Brønnøysund which was stood down after the situation was under control. The "Lurøy" (IMO:9221047) was inserted by Boreal Transport Nord starting in the evening of Oct 5 or the morning of Oct 6 as a replacement ferry. Norwegian reports with photos and video: http://www.an.no/passasjerene-evakuert/s/5-4-187089 http://www.hblad.no/lovund-tok-seg-til-land-etter-grunnstoting/s/5-23-17246 http://www.ranablad.no/nyheter/ferge/luroy/grunnstott-ferge-greide-a-ta-seg-inn-til-fergeleie-for-egen-maskin/s/5-42-107029

The "Lovund" was ready for operational service again and started its first run to Lurøybassenget from Stokkvågen on Apr 15 at 7.30 p.m. after a lengthy repairs following the grounding on Mar 20. The repair was carried out at Westcon Helgeland on Langsetvågen in Nesna. The replacement ferry "Storvågan" could be returned to Boreal Transport Nord. Norwegian report with photo: http://www.ranablad.no/nyheter/article7299176.ece

The "Lovund" ran aground enroute from Onøy to Stokkvågen off Stokkvågen in the Stig Sound in bad weather on Mar 20, 2014, at 8.45 p.m. The ferry did not take in water, but suffered bow thruster damage. There were no passengers on board, only the crew of nine people, none of whom was injured. Several lifeboats, the ferry "Lurøy" and the patrol boat "Heimdal" of the Norwegian Coastguard as well as the tug "Nautilus" assisted the ship after the distress call. The situation was brought under control and the ferry later towed to Sandnessjøen for further investigations. The ferry "Lurøy" was inserted by operattor Boreal on the route from Onøy to Stokkvågen.