– I was going to travel by ferry and had two boys in the back seat of the car. One had to crawl forward to get out of the car. That’s what a frustrated Finn Rune Konradsen from Dønna in Nordland says. The situation he is talking about happened when he was going to take the ferry from Sandnessjøen to his home place. There were many cars that were going to take this departure and therefore the two extra tires on either side of the main deck were put into use. But when the car was parked, it was so tight that he struggled to get out of the car. – I don’t think those who were behind me got out of the car. So they stayed in the car during the crossing. This is what it looks like when the extra tire on the MF Folgefonn has to be used in heavy traffic. Swipe to see the right and left side of the car. Private Fear of safety in the event of an emergency On the vast majority of large ferries, it is required to leave the vehicle and move up into the saloon. This is often because the evacuation options are upstairs in the salon. But on some stretches in Norway, where open ferries are sailed, it is legal to sit in the car during the crossing. That’s because evacuation in an emergency happens from the car tire itself. MF Folgefonn was built in Trondheim in 1998 and has room for 76 cars. Photo: Arnfinn Guttormsen This is also the case on the ferry in question, MF Folgefonn. But there are strict requirements for accessibility on such ferries, also on the car deck. Konradsen believes that the extra deck on the ferry is so narrow that it compromises safety. – What I see as dangerous is if you have to evacuate people from the cars and the people don’t get out, Konradsen continues. Cars in Norway are getting wider According to recent statistics from the Road Traffic Information Council (OFV), cars in Norway take up more space than before. In 1992, a new car in Norway was 169 centimeters wide on average. 30 years later, the average width has increased by 18 centimeters. The increase was first reported by Bilbransje24. The Norwegian Maritime Directorate: At least 60 cm clearance – The regulations state verbatim that the vehicles must be positioned so that the clearance on one side of the vehicle must be at least 60 centimetres, so that there is sufficient passage with free access to the sides of the ferries. That’s what director of communications, Dag Inge Aarhus at the Norwegian Maritime Directorate says. – So you have to get out of the cars easily if you sit in them during the crossing. Dag Inge Aarhus is director of communications at the Norwegian Maritime Directorate Photo: Gisle Jørgensen / news He says that escape routes and their availability are one of the most important things on a vessel if a crisis situation arises. – This is also why you should stay in the saloon on closed vessels, as that is often where the evacuation routes are. On open car ferries, evacuation is often available through the car deck. The regulations state that the clearance of 60 centimeters only applies to one of the vehicle’s sides. In other words, 30 centimeters of clearance on both sides is not sufficient. – What about mirrors that cannot be folded in? – The regulations are there to ensure passage, but do not specifically mention mirrors or other things that are wider than the car. This is an assessment that must be made on board. – If it is not possible to pass, then one is not in line with the regulations, regardless of whether it is a fixed mirror or cargo that sticks out. The shipping company is putting measures in place – We are aware that it is cramped on some ferries, and in particular some areas on the ferry. That’s what communications manager Cathrine Gjertsen at Norled says. Cathrine Gjertsen is communications manager at the shipping company Norled. Photo: Norled Rederiet won its first tenders in Nordland last year and took over the operation of two routes on Helgeland on 1 January this year. Gjertsen says that the vessel in question satisfies the requirements that apply to the width of the staging area. Nevertheless, they are now taking action on board. – We will mark the car lanes on the side decks again so that it is no longer permitted to stop in the narrowest areas. – Have the routines been good enough to ensure that it is passable on the car tyre? – The vehicles are not fine-tuned by the crew, but are directed into the driving lanes on the deck. They try not to send the widest cars up on the side deck if possible. Driving onto the deck is the driver’s responsibility. The Norwegian Maritime Directorate, for its part, is clear that it is the master who has the overall responsibility. – The prerequisite should not be that you have to smash a car route to get out. It should be a normal evacuation, says Aarhus in conclusion. The county: Tightens the requirements for the next tender – Nordland county council is concerned that safety is safeguarded and that it is positive that our operator is taking steps to improve the situation. That’s what section leader for mobility, Tone Øverli, says. Tone Øverli is section leader for mobility in Nordland County Municipality. Photo: Andreas Nilsen Trygstad / news She acknowledges that there are many older ferries in Nordland, but stresses that this does not necessarily mean that the offer is worse for that reason. – For Nordland county council, it is a prerequisite that the tours must be carried out. If the operator does not fulfill its obligations, it will be sanctioned in accordance with the contract. Over the next six years, the county aims to electrify several ferry connections in Nordland. Then the requirements for the ferries will also be tightened, says Øverli. – We have initiated work in relation to a new tender, and stricter requirements for material will be set in this contract. These connections in Nordland are to be electrified: Søvik – Herøy Sandnessjøen – Dønna Nesna – Levang Nesna – Nesnaøyene Jektvik – Kilboghamn Melbu – Fiskebøl Festvåg – Misten The reason why a short tender has been called in this round is that it takes time both to establish infrastructure for zero-emission solutions as well as building new or rebuilding existing vessels.
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