Working Conditions Aboard the Baltic-Princess

On March 17, 2026, a small fire erupted in the passenger sauna of the Baltic Princess while the vessel was docked at Värtahamnen in Stockholm. Fortunately, emergency services responded quickly to the incident, extinguishing the blaze without any injuries reported. The onboard passengers remained safe as most were ashore enjoying shopping in Stockholm at the time of the incident, and there was no need for evacuation. The situation was managed efficiently, ensuring the continued safety of all involved.

On January 20, 2026, at 10:55 PM, a call for assistance was made to the Swedish sea rescue fleet concerning a child who suffered injuries after a fall on the ferry, 'Baltic Princess.' The incident was reported by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), prompting the swift mobilization of the lifeboat 'Greta Dybeck' from Räfsnäs. Due to challenging weather conditions, including ice, the ambulance helicopter was unable to participate in the rescue operation. The 'Greta Dybeck' approached the vessel at an impressive speed of 34 knots. Given the circumstances, accessing the patient required navigating through the pilot gate of the ferry. With a height difference of about three meters, the rescue team coordinated the evacuation efficiently, securing the child's safe transfer to the lifeboat while aiding the mother down the pilot ladder simultaneously. Once the child was aboard, the lifeboat altered its course towards Kapellskär, where an ambulance awaited to facilitate the further transport to a hospital for necessary medical treatment. For additional details and visuals from the operation, check out the report here: [Swedish Sea Rescue Report](https://www.sjoraddning.se/larm/sjuktransport-fran-fartyget-baltic-princess?fbclid=Iwb21leAPfOddjbGNrA9851WV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHumJq2cbDeYRjFYUfzPCwITORuK3SnXEdf3x9Qdq1rDJm1NjlQOZfXg1aim9_aem_6vPY1j9mmf98xdf3IzDrlw).

On the evening of September 23, 2025, the ferry 'Baltic Princess' faced a minor incident prior to its scheduled departure from Värtahamnen, Stockholm, heading towards Turku. As the ferry prepared for its journey, there was a slight movement of both the vessel and the gangway, resulting in some damage to the sheet metal. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among passengers or crew. The ferry continued its operations as planned, successfully arriving in Turku on September 24. For further details and a photo of the incident, visit the report here: https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/Rr77qd/aftonbladet-direkt?pinnedEntry=1405941&utm_source=androidapp&utm_medium=share&fbclid=Iwb21leANBLH5jbGNrA0ErbGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEeK3dHIvl7Q6iJKTTtAN-WvxNsoQLsg2hAX4qeiTgX9cX8P2Z4P8vcmajOozc_aem_lbk_KEmUPCVF-GkRTmSbzA.

The Swedish State Accident Investigation Board has released findings regarding a near-miss incident involving the ferry 'Baltic Princess' and the shuttle vessel 'Eskil' (MMSI: 265555080) that occurred off the coast of Stockholm on October 4, 2025. The investigation revealed that the 'Eskil' had departed from Ålstäket on a route to Ström Quay amidst dense fog conditions when it encountered a significant issue with an alarm originating from its starboard main engine. Despite attempts to reset the alarm, the crew opted to navigate directly towards Ström Quay while attempting to silence the persistent alarm and restart the malfunctioning engine. As a result of this circumstance, the 'Eskil' veered unexpectedly toward the port side of the fairway. It was at this point that the crew recognized the imminent presence of the 'Baltic Princess' directly ahead. In response, the captain of the 'Eskil' accelerated and made a starboard turn, prompting the 'Baltic Princess' to first veer to port before executing a sharp starboard turn to avoid a collision. The Swedish Maritime Safety Board indicated that the 'Eskil' passed alarmingly close to the bow of the 'Baltic Princess' during this episode. The investigation underscored that the high workload faced by the master of the 'Eskil', exacerbated by the alarm situation, distracted critical attention from navigation tasks, leading to the unintended port drift. A lack of familiarity with the onboard technical systems was also identified as a contributing factor. In light of the findings, the Swedish Maritime Safety Board has recommended that Djurgårdens Färjetrafik AB enhance their crew training to ensure thorough understanding of engine systems to effectively manage unforeseen situations.

On October 30, 2024, at approximately 11 p.m., the ferry 'Baltic Princess,' which operates on the Turku–Åland–Stockholm route, encountered technical difficulties while navigating through the Åland archipelago (Latitude 60.0851; Longitude 20.7857). The vessel was forced to reverse course and anchor near the small island of Sottunga. Fortunately, the dedicated crew successfully addressed the issues, allowing the ferry to continue its journey towards Fagarvik just after midnight. At the time of the incident, around 400 passengers were on board, ensuring their safety remained the top priority during the unforeseen delay.

In a recent ruling by the Åland district court, a 75-year-old man received a hefty fine for his role in a near-collision incident involving the 'Baltic Princess,' a prominent ferry operating in the region. The incident occurred in November 2023 when the man and a companion were navigating their sailboat through the dark waters of Skiftet, en route from Stockholm, Sweden, to Pargas, Finland. The sailboat encountered mechanical issues, losing both steering control and having problems with the propeller shaft. During this critical time, the man left the helm to inspect the engine room, inadvertently steering the vessel off course and onto a potential collision path with the ferry. Upon returning to the helm, he erroneously turned the sailboat back onto the same trajectory as the 'Baltic Princess.' Fortunately, the ferry's crew quickly recognized the impending danger and executed evasive maneuvers, allowing the two vessels to pass each other with a mere 20-meter gap. For his negligence, the court imposed a penalty of 50 daily fines amounting to a total of 500 Euros, in addition to an 80 Euro victim surcharge. This incident underscores the importance of careful navigation and adherence to maritime safety protocols, especially in challenging conditions.

In a shocking incident that has gone viral on social media, employees of the Finnish construction company Pimura Oy, along with their 25-year-old manager, have been caught on video damaging property aboard the cruise ferry 'Baltic Princess'. The occurrence took place during a voyage in early December, where the group was reportedly unruly after a day filled with drinking. Footage shared online reveals the group throwing several chairs, cushions, and a small table off the aft-facing balcony of their stateroom while others laughed and filmed the antics. Notably, the manager himself recorded the incident and posted it to TikTok but deleted it after it gained attention, only for it to be uploaded by others on Twitter. This irresponsible behavior also included instances of urination in one of the onboard saunas and inappropriate conduct at the ship’s bar, although further details on this have not been specified. In response to the chaos, Tallink Silja, the cruise line operating the Baltic Princess, has billed the party for damages related to the furniture thrown overboard, as well as additional incidental fees. The exact cost of the furniture remains undisclosed, but it is confirmed to meet fire-safe standards, making it significantly more costly than standard furniture. Investigations are underway, and local police have been brought into the matter to explore potential criminal charges. Furthermore, Tallink Silja is contemplating additional penalties as they review the incident. Thankfully, the repercussions could have been much more severe—video footage shows the furniture striking the ship's hull, which could lead to cosmetic damage. Discarded items in the water pose threats to smaller vessels and local wildlife, raising the stakes of their reckless actions. Consequently, all individuals involved in this debacle have been banned from traveling on any ships operated by the ferry service for a minimum of one year.