Read Authentic Ratings for the Hordaland

On December 7, the ferry "Hordaland" ran aground due to human error, drifting several hundred meters off its intended course. This incident occurred while the vessel was navigationally traveling between Årsnes and Varaldsøy in the Kvinnherad region. At the time of the grounding, there were 13 passengers and a crew of six on board, all of whom required evacuation. According to Norled, the ferry operator, the incident was attributed to the navigator's lack of attention during several crucial minutes. Following the incident, the ferry was successfully docked at Halsnoy Dokk AS in Høylandsbygd for necessary repairs on December 15 at 2 p.m.

As of December 8, the ferry "Hordaland" remained docked in Varaldsøy due to ongoing stability concerns. Although repair crews made temporary fixes on December 7, the vessel is not yet fit for deep water operations. A diving team is scheduled to return on-site at 11 a.m. to assess the situation further. Currently, there is no estimated timeline for when the ferry will be safely towed to a repair dock. In the meantime, passenger ferries are operating solely between Gjermundshamn, Varaldsøy, and Årsnes in Kvinnherad. Typically, the crossing from Gjermundshamn to Årsnes takes about 20 minutes directly, or 40 minutes if the ferry navigates around Varaldsøy. At 10:45 p.m., Norled announced that ferry services could resume once the "Hordaland" is relocated to a safer docking facility. For more details, visit the Norwegian news report with accompanying photos at http://www.osogfusa.no/nyhende/dykkarar-fra-os-skal-inspisera-ferjeskrog-1.2207069.

On the afternoon of December 7, 2023, Norled successfully managed a critical situation involving their ferry, the 'Hordaland.' A breach in the hull was identified by divers at 12:30 p.m., measuring between 2 to 3 meters in length and approximately 5 centimeters in width, located 2 meters below the waterline. Despite temporary repairs to the leak, significant water was still present on board, necessitating continuous pumping efforts. To maintain service, the replacement ferry 'Fitjar' has been dispatched from Gjermundshamn to Varaldsøy and is set to take over operations as soon as the 'Hordaland' can be safely towed from the dock. For further updates on the incident, check out the full Norwegian report with photos here: https://grenda.no/leitar-etter-arsaka/