Capsize fears on ferry after glitch caused violent roll

A FERRY rolled so much that many of its 500 passengers feared it was going to capsize.

Terrified travellers reported glasses and plates smashing in the bar and restaurant as the Hjaltland sailed from Lerwick, in Shetland, to Kirkwall, i n Orkney, on Wednesday night.

Last night, operator Serco Northlink admitted the ship’s master lost control of the vessel for a few seconds during which time it had rolled dramatically to the left.

Serco Northlink’s marine manager Captain Stuart McCallum said that there had been a ‘technical issue with the autopilot’ behind the event that lasted 14 seconds. As a result the vessel was i mmediately switched to hand steering.

He said the ferry had been rolling at an average of nine degrees in moderate seas with the wind blowing at force six before a ‘heavier than average roll’ of 16 degrees.

Captain McCallum said: ‘The vessel was under the bridge watch keeping authority

‘Technical issue experienced’

of the chief officer at the time who maintained and provided, as we would expect, a professional response to the technical issue experienced.’

One passenger Donna Simpson, from Tingwall, Shetland, was travelling on the Hjaltland with her children, aged five and two. She said: ‘I was getting out of my seat to gather stuff when the boat just started tipping over, and kept on going over and over on to its side.’

She added: ‘Quite a lot of folk felt that the boat was going to capsize.’

She revealed that the incident had left people alarmed and one young woman had been in tears.

People appeared from their cabins and some went on deck to find out what had happened, she said.

Despite what had happened, she claimed passengers had not been given an explanation by the crew.