Norway isn’t the only place experiencing rough winter weather this week: Denmark is also hit by snow and strongs winds, so strong that a cruise-ferry regularly sailing between Oslo and Copenhagen couldn’t dock in the Danish capital on Wednesday.
Ferry line DFDS’ popular vessel Crown Seaways left Oslo on schedule Tuesday afternoon, with 900 passengers on board plus crew. When it sailed into Copenhagen’s Nordhavn on Wednesday morning, though, the weather was so bad that it couldn’t tie up, not even with attempted assistance from a tug boat.
“After 20 minutes they had to give up,” passenger Casper Westergaard told Danmarks Radio. The only alternative was to sail back out to sea in Øresund.
One passenger needing medical assistance was reportedly evacuated by a Danish rescue helicopter. Everyone else on board simply had to spend an extra night in their cabins, consoled by free food and drink.
“It’s irritating, but most understand the situation,” DFDS’ press chief Dennis Kjærsgaard told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK).
‘Very, very good service’
Westergaard, meanwhile, said the mood was positive on board and that the ferry’s crew was providing “very, very good service.” He confirmed they’d been offered “free coffee and tea” and that crew members even set up special play equipment for children.
“I haven’t encountered anything other than super friendly personnel and passengers,” Westergaard said, adding that they were taking the unexpected full-day delay well. Danmarks Radio also reported that the captain of the ship had maneuvered the vessel into a position at sea where it could best ride out the storm and avoid seasickness among passengers.
DFDS’ other ferry sailed as usual from Oslo Wednesday afternoon, meaning both vessels would be arriving at DFDS’ pier in Copenhagen in the morning. The Crown Seaways was due to attempt to dock early, around 7am, before the other ferry from Oslo was scheduled to arrive at 10am.
NewsinEnglish.no/Nina Berglund
