Following the COVID-19 pandemic declaration, many are the European ferry companies that have announced service suspension on several sea routes, in efforts to mitigate the rapid transmission of the virus, also following many countries that issue restricted port guidelines.
Firstly, Spanish ferry company Baleària stated that they’re collaborating with relevant authorities and follow their instructions concerning the company’s ferry services. Yet, for the time being the company has changed its services on Ibiza-Formentera, Ceut-Algeciras and Valencia-Mostaganem routes.
While, following the Moroccan Government’s decision to stop traffic with Spain, the company stopped passenger departures for the Algeciras-Tangier Med and Almeria-Nador routes.
Secondly, the Swedish company Stena Line added that they stop all passenger traffic to and from Denmark and Poland, following the two countries’ decision on a temporary closure of their borders due to COVID-19.
The company stated that
The company will continue to operate the following routes with the existing timetables and vessels but only carrying freight onboard until further notice.
The routes are Gothenburg-Frederikshavn, Halmstad- Grenaa and Karlskrona-Gdynia. In addition, Stena Line, which has a fleet of 37 vessels, also suspended all operations on the route Oslo – Frederikshavn.
Another ferry company, Estonian Tallink Grupp, also reported that they are halting their operations concerning the Riga-Stockholm route passenger vessels Romantika and Isabelle from March 16 until further notice. The two ships will remain in the port of Riga until the operations are restored. Tallink Grupp will stop selling return tickets on the Tallinn-Stockholm route.
However, the company added that they continue their service on the Tallinn-Helsinki route vessels Megastar, Star and Silja Europa and its Muuga-Vuosaari route ship Seawind according to normal schedule.
Concluding, DFDS, the Danish ferry and logistics company, announced that they will halt their sailings from March 16, 2020, until April 1, 2020, as a minimum.
The company noted that following the government’s decision on new measures, passengers will have to quarantine for 14 days upon entry into Norway if they have been outside the Nordic countries in the period after February 27.
