Discover the Stena-Spirit: Ratings & Maritime News

The Stena Spirit has successfully returned to service following its grounding incident off the coast of Karlskrona on March 25. After undergoing extensive repairs at the Remontowa Shipyard in Gdansk, the ferry set sail for its first journey from Gdynia to Karlskrona on April 28 at 11:30 PM. Authorities, including the Swedish Transport Agency and the Danish Maritime Authority, are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the grounding. With the ferry now operational, the service frequency between Karlskrona and Gdynia has increased to 34 departures each week, a notable rise from the 27 departures scheduled during the repair period.

On March 25, 2026, at 9:30 a.m., the Stena Spirit faced a challenging situation while docked at Karlskrona port when a mooring line at the stern snapped due to powerful winds, causing the ferry to drift. The vessel was carrying 489 passengers on board when the Swedish Navy tug, HMS Hector, stationed at Karlskrona naval port, recognized the emergency and quickly established radio communication with the ferry. The Stena Spirit swiftly requested assistance from HMS Hector, which promptly responded along with a commercial tug to aid in the situation. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported, and the ferry was successfully secured after being moored at the quay. Following the incident, inspections of both the vessel and the port infrastructure were conducted, alongside an evaluation by the classification society as the company awaited final clearance to relocate the Stena Spirit to available docking space. Meanwhile, the incident caused significant delays for other ships on the Gdynia-Karlskrona route operated by Stena Line Polska, leading to the cancellation of the Stena Spirit's evening sailing. Affected passengers were generously offered reservations on another ferry and provided overnight hotel accommodations. Additionally, the arrival of the Stena Estelle in Karlskrona was postponed, and waiting passengers received lodging and meals aboard the Stena Spirit during the prolonged delay. Similarly, the departure of the Stena Ebb from Gdynia was also affected, with boarded passengers utilizing onboard cabins and amenities. Diving inspections of the Stena Spirit's hull commenced at Verkö port and continued on March 26, leading to the cancellation of all sailings between Karlskrona and Gdynia for the time being. The Stena Spirit was eventually permitted to depart for Gdansk on March 28 for necessary repairs, arriving at Remontowa Shipyard in Gdansk-Ostrów on March 29 at 5:20 a.m. UTC to address the hull damage. For more details, including photos and video reports, check the following links: [Portal Morski](https://www.portalmorski.pl/zegluga/60360-uszkodzenie-cumy-rufowej-promu-stena-spirit-opoznienia-promow-na-linii-gdynia-karlskrona), [Trojmisto](https://www.trojmiasto.pl/tv/Stena-Spirit-26-03-2026-video-106878.html), and [Aftonbladet](https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/0ppoWM/stena-farja-fast-utanfor-karlskrona).

As of March 27, the 'Stena Spirit' remains lodged at the Verkö port in Karlskrona, creating significant disruption two days after the incident. Stena Line is facing delays in receiving the necessary permit from the Swedish Transport Agency to transfer the grounded ferry to a shipyard. The reason for this holdup has not been clarified by Stena Line. The Swedish Transport Agency has indicated that they are awaiting a stability assessment, but the party responsible for this evaluation has not been identified. The 'Stena Spirit' has been stranded just outside Karlskrona for over 16 hours. During this period, the crew has been actively supporting passengers by providing water and opening the restaurant area for complimentary meals. Passengers have also received updates every two hours via the ship's public announcement system as they awaited permission to dock, which is approximately half an hour from Karlskrona. The incident has had ripple effects on ferry operations; on March 26, significant delays were reported in ferry services between Karlskrona and Gdynia. As a result, one of Stena Line's vessels, the 'Stena Estelle', redirected to Trelleborg instead. Meanwhile, numerous passengers on the 'Stena Ebba' found themselves stranded at sea due to the inability of ferries to dock in Karlskrona. For more information, including visuals, please see the full report here: https://omni.se/passagerare-fast-pa-farja-medicinerna-borjar-ta-slut/a/zOOx51.

In a heartbreaking development, investigators have concluded that the deaths of a Polish mother and her young son in a tragic incident on June 29 were not accidental. The incident occurred aboard the ferry 'Stena Spirit' while en route from Gdynia to Karlskrona. According to public prosecutor Marie Lindström, who is overseeing the investigation, surveillance footage reveals that the mother was holding her child when both fell overboard. Initially, the incident was treated as an accident when a seven-year-old boy reportedly fell overboard, prompting his mother to jump in pursuit. Tragically, their bodies were recovered approximately one hour later. However, recent findings from the Swedish Public Prosecutor's Office, which included analysis of the ferry's surveillance video and an interview with the vessel's captain, indicate a more complex narrative. As authorities continue to investigate this poignant incident, they have stated there were no eyewitnesses to the tragedy, further complicating the case. The revelation marks a somber twist in what many believed was a heart-wrenching accident, prompting renewed interest and concern for maritime safety.

A tragic event unfolded on June 29, 2023, when a mother and her seven-year-old child fell overboard the Stena Spirit ferry while traveling from Karlskrona to Gdynia. Following the incident, which occurred midway through the vessel's journey, a comprehensive rescue operation was launched. Multiple helicopters and NATO ships in the vicinity responded promptly, locating the pair and bringing them aboard a helicopter for urgent medical assistance. Unfortunately, upon arrival at the hospital, both were pronounced dead. Initial investigations suggest that this heartbreaking occurrence could be linked to an extended suicide. Authorities continue to explore the circumstances surrounding this devastating event.

On September 16, 2019, at 10 a.m., the Stena Spirit encountered significant engine troubles while entering Karlskrona, having just departed from Gdynia. The ferry faced a blackout which resulted in the vessel missing its intended docking position and subsequently colliding with the Norwegian offshore vessel NKT Victoria in choppy, windy conditions. As the Stena Spirit made its way to Verkö port, it unexpectedly lost power and began drifting perilously close to the Verkö lighthouse. In an emergency maneuver, the ferry deployed its anchor in a frantic attempt to halt the drift but unfortunately ran aground. Once the engines were restored, the ferry reversed towards the dock, colliding with the stationary cable ship. In response to the incident, Stena dispatched divers to inspect the hull of the Stena Spirit for potential damage. Fortunately, there were no oil spills from either vessel, and thankfully, all passengers and crew onboard were unharmed. Although emergency services were alerted, an ambulance was not required. The Swedish Coast Guard vessel KBV 003 arrived on the scene to conduct investigations. Both vessels managed to dock safely at Verkö Port by 10:15 a.m. The Stena Spirit, carrying 740 passengers along with 103 crew members, resumed its journey, leaving the port at 9:30 p.m. and returning to Gdynia by 7:15 a.m. the following morning. For detailed coverage and photos, refer to this Swedish news report: https://www.svt.se/nyheter/lokalt/blekinge/passagerarfartyg-i-kollision-med-fartyg-stort-raddningspadrag.