Ferry Collision in Gildeskål Raises Safety Concerns
On the evening of February 12, 2026, the ferry ‘Støtt’ (IMO: 7804986) collided with the moored ferry ‘Meløytind’ at the quay in Gildeskål, Nordland. The incident occurred while the ‘Støtt’ was navigating the Sund-Horsdal-Sørarnøy route. As the ‘Støtt’ approached the Horsdal quay, it veered off course and struck the stationary ‘Meløytind’, which was serving as a reserve ferry at the time. The impact caused minor damage to the bow visor of the ‘Støtt’, leading to its temporary withdrawal from service for inspections.
The Norwegian Maritime Authority was promptly notified by the shipping company regarding the allision. Following this, officials from the Bodø office conducted inspections on both vessels involved. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, but the incident has raised questions about the navigational safety protocols in place for ferry operations in this region.
Technical Issues Affect Ferry Operations
The ‘Meløytind’, which had been operating on the same Sund-Horsdal-Sørarnøy route, had encountered a technical fault on October 27, 2025. This malfunction necessitated its removal from service for repairs at Sund-Karmøy. In response, the shipping company deployed the reserve vessel ‘Os’ to manage ferry traffic. The ‘Os’ successfully arrived in Sør-Arnøy at 11:00 a.m. and took over the route until it was later redirected to Gildeskål on October 28. The ‘Os’ was scheduled to be replaced during the day, ensuring continuity of service for passengers.
This incident underlines the challenges ferry operators face in maintaining service reliability, especially when technical issues arise. The swift response to deploy a reserve vessel demonstrated the company’s commitment to minimizing disruptions for travelers.
Previous Service Interruptions Due to Technical Problems
Ferry services on the Langevåg-Buavåg route also faced interruptions due to technical difficulties. On August 22, 2019, the ferry “Utstein” experienced problems that led to a cancellation of service for 2.5 hours. The operator, Norled, announced the delay at 6:40 a.m. After troubleshooting efforts, the ferry was able to resume normal operations by 9:00 a.m. This incident serves as a reminder of the potential impact of mechanical issues on ferry schedules and the importance of timely updates to passengers.
As ferry operations continue to serve vital transportation needs in the region, both the recent allision and past technical failures highlight the necessity for rigorous safety measures and reliable service protocols to ensure passenger safety and satisfaction.
