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Vessels stuck in Baltic Sea ice Ships freed from Baltic Sea ice
(about 7 hours later)
A number of ships, including ferries with more than 1,000 passengers on board, have become stuck in ice in the Baltic Sea, officials say. Four ships have broken free after being stuck in the ice in the Baltic Sea, but around 50 remain stuck, officials say.
The ferries are stranded in the waters between Stockholm and the Aland Islands, while cargo boats are stuck in the Bay of Bothnia. Some ships are stranded in the waters between Stockholm and the Aaland Islands, while others are stuck in the Bay of Bothnia to the north.
Many of the vessels are not likely to be freed for hours, the Swedish maritime authorities say.Many of the vessels are not likely to be freed for hours, the Swedish maritime authorities say.
They say no-one is hurt and there are currently no evacuation plans. They say no-one is hurt and there are currently no evacuation plans. However, the level of alert has been increased.
However, the level of alert has been increased and rescuers are now on standby, Peter Lindquist from the Swedish maritime authorities told the BBC. Rescuers are now on standby, Peter Lindquist from the Swedish maritime authorities told the BBC.
Amorella, a passenger ferry with nearly 1,000 people on board, broke free from the ice early on Friday, the Associated Press reports.
Two other ferries, the Isabella and the Finnfellow managed to break free on Thursday.
Both Sweden and Finland have deployed ice breakers in the area to help the stranded vessels.Both Sweden and Finland have deployed ice breakers in the area to help the stranded vessels.
"The ice wouldn't usually be a problem for the merchant ships, the problem now is that it's very windy, about 20 metres per second," Jonas Lindvall, controller of the ice-breaking unit at the Swedish maritime authorities, told Radio Sweden earlier."The ice wouldn't usually be a problem for the merchant ships, the problem now is that it's very windy, about 20 metres per second," Jonas Lindvall, controller of the ice-breaking unit at the Swedish maritime authorities, told Radio Sweden earlier.
"That means that the ice is moving rapidly, there are lots of ridges with ice that's making it problematic for the ships, so they need help from the ice breakers," the controller said."That means that the ice is moving rapidly, there are lots of ridges with ice that's making it problematic for the ships, so they need help from the ice breakers," the controller said.
Six Viking Line ferries - which regularly shuttle thousands of passengers between Finland and Sweden - were among the vessels stuck.
There was a minor collision between two of the ferries when they tried to manoeuvre in packs of ice.There was a minor collision between two of the ferries when they tried to manoeuvre in packs of ice.
Mats Nystrom, a passenger on the ferry Amorella, said that was the most dramatic moment. Mats Nystrom, a passenger on the Amorella, said that was the most dramatic moment.
"Suddenly in the loudspeakers there's a voice saying that all passengers must immediately move to the stern. Of course at that moment the passengers got worried and wondered what was happening," Mr Nystrom told Sweden's SVT broadcaster."Suddenly in the loudspeakers there's a voice saying that all passengers must immediately move to the stern. Of course at that moment the passengers got worried and wondered what was happening," Mr Nystrom told Sweden's SVT broadcaster.
He added that there was no panic on the vessel. He added that there had been no panic on the vessel.
Amorella and another ferry later managed to break free from the ice, reports say.
It is reportedly the worst Baltic freeze for 15 years.It is reportedly the worst Baltic freeze for 15 years.
However, Mr Lindquist said weather conditions were expected to improve on Friday.However, Mr Lindquist said weather conditions were expected to improve on Friday.
Are you on one of the vessels? Do you have any information you would like to share with the BBC? If so please complete the form below.Are you on one of the vessels? Do you have any information you would like to share with the BBC? If so please complete the form below.
Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or you have a large file you can upload here.
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