Discover the Wasa-Express: Ratings & Maritime News

Effective April 11, passenger transport on vessels traveling to and from Finland has been officially suspended. Wasaline has anticipated the government's recent regulations, and although the 'Wasa Express' will continue its regular sailing schedule post-April 9, it will no longer accommodate passengers. This restriction is enforceable until May 13, 2020. Recent trips have seen an average of only ten passengers onboard, compelling the company to adapt. Despite the challenges, Wasaline's freight operations will proceed, thanks to support from Finland's emergency preparedness center. The 'Wasa Express' will not operate over the Easter weekend, remaining docked on Easter Saturday and Sunday due to a lack of shipping demand. However, freight services are set to resume on April 13, with some voyages experiencing near-capacity bookings for freight. The crew continues to operate the vessel with 26 members still on board, ensuring that the kitchen and other essential services remain functional.

On October 16, 2019, the 'Wasa Express' faced a significant delay in its scheduled departure from Vaasa to Umeå due to a hydraulic leak affecting the stern ramp. Originally set to leave at 2:30 p.m., the ship's departure was postponed for an estimated three hours, with repairs anticipated to be finished around 5:30 p.m. Consequently, the next scheduled sailing from Umeå, initially planned for 7 p.m., is also expected to experience delays as a result of this incident.

On November 29, 2018, the Wasa Express encountered significant trouble while navigating the turbulent waters of the Bay of Bothnia. Around noon, the ferry was forced to return to its departure point in Vaasa after a truck carrying recycled plastic tipped over due to fierce winds reaching 22 meters per second. The incident occurred approximately 17 nautical miles from the Vasa archipelago, where the rough seas caused furniture and dishes aboard to shift and break. When the truck broke free from its securing chains and collided with another vehicle on the cargo deck, the captain made the prudent decision to turn the vessel around for the safety of its 104 passengers. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and the safety of everyone onboard remained intact. Wasa Express safely arrived back at the Vaasa port by 4:30 p.m. for a thorough inspection and the subsequent removal of the truck from the cargo hold. As a direct result of these events, the ferry's evening trip from Umeå to Vaasa was cancelled, along with sailings scheduled for November 30 and December 1. For further visuals and updates, you can view reports with photos and videos at the following links: [YLE](https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-10532400), [Vasabladet](https://www.vasabladet.fi/Artikel/Visa/249310), and [Svenska YLE](https://svenska.yle.fi/artikel/2018/11/30/wasa-express-gick-ut-pa-torsdag-trots-stormvarning-det-ar-inte-forsta-gangen-det).