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Ships freed from Baltic Sea ice Ships freed from Baltic Sea ice
(29 minutes later)
Dozens of ships that had been trapped in ice in the Baltic Sea off Stockholm, some for several days, have been freed, Swedish maritime authorities have said.Dozens of ships that had been trapped in ice in the Baltic Sea off Stockholm, some for several days, have been freed, Swedish maritime authorities have said.
A spokesman told the BBC that the last vessel was rescued from the waters between the capital and the Aaland Islands early on Friday morning.A spokesman told the BBC that the last vessel was rescued from the waters between the capital and the Aaland Islands early on Friday morning.
At least 26 ships are awaiting help further north in the Bay of Bothnia.At least 26 ships are awaiting help further north in the Bay of Bothnia.
On Thursday, icebreakers had to be used to free the ferry Amorella, which had 943 passengers and crew on board.On Thursday, icebreakers had to be used to free the ferry Amorella, which had 943 passengers and crew on board.
Two other ferries, the Isabella and the Finnfellow, managed to break free on Thursday, the Swedish Maritime Administration said.Two other ferries, the Isabella and the Finnfellow, managed to break free on Thursday, the Swedish Maritime Administration said.
Both Sweden and Finland deployed icebreakers in the area to help the stranded vessels. There was a minor collision between the Finnfellow and the Amorella when they tried to manoeuvre in the ice on Thursday, but there was no major damage reported by either vessel.
"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 maritime administration, told Radio Sweden on Thursday. Mats Nystrom, a passenger on the Amorella, said that had been the most dramatic moment.
"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."
There was a minor collision between the Finnfellow and the Amorella when they tried to manoeuvre in the ice on Thursday, but there was no major damage reported.
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.
It is reportedly the worst Baltic freeze for 15 years and the maritime administration said the ships had ignored warning about the ice. Jonas Lindvall, the controller of the icebreaking unit at the maritime administration, said sea ice in the area would not normally have been a problem for merchant ships.
However, the weather conditions were expected to improve on Friday. However, onshore winds of about 72km/h (45mph) had pushed the ice rapidly towards the coast and created ridges which the merchant ships could not cope with, he said. Icebreakers subsequently had to be deployed by both Sweden and Finland.
"They got caught outside the archipelago, where there is moving ice. It's hard to navigate," Mr Lindvall told the AFP news agency, adding he had not seen so many ships stuck at once since the mid-1980s.
The weather conditions are expected to improve on Friday.
Were 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.Were 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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