Working Conditions Aboard the New-Amsterdam

In light of a recent allision incident, the 'Finnmerchant' faced a significant delay of 24 hours, prompting an immediate revision of her operational timetable to restore normalcy. The updated itinerary is as follows: the vessel departed Hanko on Thursday, January 12, at 21:35, with an expected arrival in Rostock on Saturday, January 14, at 01:00, and an estimated time of stay (ETS) until 09:00. The 'Finnmerchant' will then set sail to Hanko again on Sunday, January 15, with an ETA of 14:00 and an ETS of 20:00. Following this, the ship is scheduled to arrive in Rostock on Tuesday, January 17, at 00:00, departing at 08:00, before returning to Hanko on Wednesday, January 18, with an ETA of 13:00 and ETS of 19:00. After this sequence, the vessel will revert to its regular schedule, ensuring minimal disruption for future voyages.

On the evening of January 11, 2017, at approximately 8:00 PM, the cargo vessel 'Finnmerchant' experienced a dramatic situation at the port of Hanko when it broke free from its moorings as a fierce storm swept through the area. The vessel, which had arrived from Rostock earlier that day at 11:00 AM and was docked at berth no. 3, collided with the 'Trica', a nearby ship that was securely moored at the ro-ro berth 2. The sudden snapping of the mooring ropes caused the 'Finnmerchant' to drift towards the stationary 'Trica', resulting in a minor bump between the two vessels. Thankfully, the damage was minimal, and the incident caused only slight delays in port operations. Tugs quickly intervened, successfully towing the 'Finnmerchant' back to her original berth. Following the brief disruption, the 'Trica' continued its departure as scheduled, while the 'Finnmerchant' set sail from Hanko the next evening at 8:45 PM. The harbor faced high winds, with gusts nearly reaching 30 m/s, contributing to this unexpected maritime event. For further insights, Swedish media reported on the incident, showcasing images of the situation: [Link 1](https://svenska.yle.fi/artikel/2017/01/12/fartygskollision-i-hango-hamn) and [Link 2](https://www.vastranyland.fi/artikel/stormen-skapade-tillbud-i-hango-hamn/).

Starting from January 19, 2015, Finnlines is set to enhance its maritime offering by introducing a new route between Hanko, Finland, and Rostock, Germany, as announced in their official press release. This new service will utilize the ro-ro vessel MS Finnmerchant (formerly known as MS Dorset and MS Longstone), which proudly flies the Finnish flag. The addition of the Hanko-Rostock route is designed to significantly complement Finnlines' existing Helsinki-Rostock services. Hanko, recognized as Finland's southernmost port, boasts excellent connectivity to both the western and southern regions of the country. Finnlines aims to provide added value to its customers with the deployment of the MS Finnmerchant, a vessel that exemplifies the company's commitment to maintaining a modern and capable fleet. This state-of-the-art ro-ro vessel, constructed in 2003, features an impressive ice class 1A rating, accommodates 2,606 lane meters, and has a gross tonnage of 23,235. The introduction of the Hanko-Rostock route will create exciting new opportunities for Finnlines' customer base across the Baltic Sea, providing the shortest connection along with a convenient schedule.