Complete Maritime Profile & Reviews of Varagen

On the evening of November 11, 2022, the ferry 'Varagen,' carrying 41 passengers, encountered an unfortunate incident when it ran aground near the Rapness pier on the island of Westray. Fortunately, the vessel was successfully refloated and safely berthed at Rapness, allowing passengers to disembark before the ferry was escorted back to Kirkwall by tugboats in the early morning hours of November 12. In the aftermath of the grounding, both Orkney Harbours and Orkney Ferries, operated by Orkney Council, initiated three separate investigations to understand the circumstances leading to this incident. However, these inquiries concluded that it was a singular technical failure, prompting the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) to halt any further investigation after conducting their preliminary assessments. The 'Varagen' resumed its operations on November 19, 2022, ensuring continued service for the community.

The 'Varagen' is currently experiencing a mechanical issue that has the potential to disrupt sailing schedules. The malfunction lies within the bow thruster, significantly complicating the vessel's operations when docking at pier linkspans, particularly during adverse weather conditions. Passengers should prepare for possible delays or cancellations until repairs are finalized. To address the problem, a replacement part must be custom-manufactured to meet the stringent standards set for passenger vessels. Orkney Ferries has projected that the repair process may take approximately 10 weeks to complete, as they work diligently to restore normal operations.