Discover the Aeroexpressen: Ratings & Maritime News

In a notable case from Svendborg, a judge has decided to lessen the penalty for a ferry master involved in incorrectly reporting two allisions of the 'Ærøxpressen' in 2022. The incidents occurred at the quays of Marstal and Rudkøbing on June 18 and June 30. Following the collisions, the 59-year-old captain promptly notified the ferry's management about the incidents, adhering to the internal protocols of the ferry company. However, the shipping company erred by reporting the incidents to the Danish Maritime Authority instead of the mandated Joint Defence Command (VFK). As a result, the master was found guilty of breaching the Danish Nature Agency's executive order no. 874 due to the failure to immediately inform the Joint Defence Command as required by law. During the trial, the Svendborg court acknowledged the prolonged duration of the case, which led to a significant reduction in the fine compared to the prosecution's initial demand. Ultimately, the court imposed a fine of DKK 2,500 along with legal costs, markedly lower than the DKK 20,000 sought by the prosecutor.

On December 26, 2024, at 6:10 p.m., the 'ÆrøXpressen' embarked from Marstal, heading towards Rudkøbing, but unfortunately encountered engine issues that necessitated a return to port for urgent repairs. This incident also resulted in the cancellation of the planned 7:20 p.m. sailing from Rudkøbing, affecting numerous passengers. The vessel's IMO number is available for tracking further updates on the service recovery.

On March 29, 2020, at 10:20 a.m., the ferry 'Ærøxpressen' encountered an unfortunate allision with the dock in Marstal after arriving from Rudkøbing. This mishap occurred under challenging conditions marked by strong northerly winds and elevated water levels, which contributed to the situation. The vessel became lodged over the quay, requiring the intervention of the tug 'Erria' to assist in freeing the ferry. Despite sustaining some dents to its hull, 'Ærøxpressen' was successfully pulled away from the dock. The allision also resulted in damage to the ferry dock's electrical systems and the quay itself. Remarkably, the ferry resumed its sailing schedule from Marstal at 4:30 p.m., although repairs were needed in the near future to address the damages sustained during the incident. For more visuals and details, visit the Danish report here: https://faa.dk/artikel/%C3%A6r%C3%B8xpressen-kyssede-kajen-sl%C3%A6beb%C3%A5d-m%C3%A5tte-hj%C3%A6lpe-f%C3%A6rgen-fri?fbclid=IwAR2wGOvE0WmLJCzbYkWUEZG7VR5CCE2F6qEwiIn6Lx03KQAOstYiHIlQLSM.