Ferry ‘Barøy’ Faces Technical Issues, Service Disruption Announced
On May 4, 2026, at 12:11 a.m., Torghatten, the ferry operator, announced that the ‘Barøy’ ferry would be temporarily out of service due to technical issues. This suspension of service affected the Lødingen-Bognes route, with the last scheduled departure at 12:45 a.m. The company indicated that the ferry service would resume no later than 11:30 p.m. on the same day. Passengers were advised to stay updated for further announcements regarding the ferry’s status and any potential delays.
Recent Fire Incident Raises Safety Concerns
In a separate incident, the ‘Barøy‘ was involved in a fire while docked at Bognes in Hamarøy municipality on November 14, 2024. The fire broke out around midday due to an explosion in a charging unit onboard. Fortunately, there were no passengers present during the incident. Emergency services responded swiftly, containing the fire and preventing it from spreading, although significant smoke was produced. The power supply was disconnected to ensure safety, and the fire brigade initiated ventilation procedures.
One crew member suffered minor smoke inhalation and was evaluated by medical personnel on-site. All other crew members were confirmed safe, and the situation was under investigation by local police. This incident has raised questions about safety protocols and emergency preparedness on ferries, especially concerning onboard charging systems.
Electric Passenger Ferry Catches Fire in Norway, Passengers Safely Evacuated
History of Technical Problems with ‘Barøy’
The ‘Barøy’ ferry has faced technical challenges in the past. On July 13, 2017, the ferry was sidelined due to similar issues, prompting Torghatten Nord to inform passengers that the ferry would not operate on the Bognes-Lødingen route. As a result, several departures were canceled, including those at 05:15 a.m. and 08:00 a.m. from Lødingen and 06:30 a.m. and 09:15 a.m. from Bognes. The ferry was replaced by the ‘Hamarøy,’ with the first departure from Lødingen resuming at 10:30 a.m. The duration of the outage was unknown at that time, leaving many passengers in uncertainty.
These recurring technical issues with the ‘Barøy’ highlight the importance of regular maintenance and thorough inspections to ensure passenger safety and reliability in ferry services. As such incidents continue to arise, it remains crucial for ferry operators to implement effective measures to prevent future occurrences.
