The problems started after the ferry left Holmön at 10 am. A little while on the trip, the passengers felt the smell of burnt oil before the fire alarm went off. Soon the engine stopped.
- It sounded like it was cutting and we started to push. It was cold and blew up to 18 m / s. Just getting anchors was not easy, but eventually they succeeded, says Mona.
Together with three others, she was evacuated from the boat by helicopter.
- The winch itself was quiet. Obviously it was a bit devilish, but it went well. We are home now and have received good help. The captain was calm and did what she could, that is not her fault. But what if there were more people on the ferry, how bad it could have gone.
According to Mona, this is not the first time there has been a problem with Holmöfärjan.
- We have one of Sweden's worst ferries. There is really no safe boat.
Trafikverket: "An older ship"Claes Tyrin, an officer in readiness at the Swedish Transport Administration's ferry company, tells us that the ferry was turned over just a few weeks ago.
- Shipyard review has been done exactly as directed and there were no errors then. This is a crash on the machinery that has come suddenly.
Is this the first time this has happened?
- No, I know there have been technical problems before. It is an older ship so there are several things that can be complicated and we are working hard to prevent something like this from happening.
Now the ferry will be towed to Holmsund where it will undergo a technical inspection.
- But this was not due to lack of maintenance. We work hard with the safety bit and would never drop the ferry unless we think it is 100 percent, says Tyrin.