In many places in Norway, the ferry companies are required to transport patients. The fact that it can happen at any time has consequences for ordinary ferry operations. It has become more difficult to obtain exemptions from the crews’ rest time regulations in the past year. Cancer nurse Ingri Langaas Mausner at Jøa in Trøndelag noticed this during Christmas. The ferry trip was suddenly canceled when she was going to work. – Completely unsustainable – For the first time in 20 years, I couldn’t get to work at Namsos Hospital. I know that ferry departures have also been canceled in the past, but this is the first time I have been affected, says Mausner to news. – Our road was closed for five hours due to an ambulance trip and subsequent rest time for the crew. It is completely unsustainable. It is almost impossible to believe that we do not have better preparedness. In Trøndelag, it is the Ølhammeren-Seierstad and Skei-Gutvik ferry routes that have these challenges. Last year there were 121 such emergency trips on the two connections. Strict requirements for safety It is the Norwegian Maritime Directorate that has tightened up the practice around the crew’s rest time. – The rest period must not be shorter than six hours during a 24-hour period. In 2023, 59 out of 69 applications for exemptions from the rest time regulations were nevertheless granted. This is what the directorate writes in an e-mail to news. Namdalsavisa has also mentioned the case. – It is important to point out that the security requirements must be strict. Although two cases may look relatively similar, there may be circumstances which cause the outcome to be different. The county municipalities are responsible for the ferry service. County deputy mayor in Trøndelag, Pål Sæther Eiden (H), believes that more people must work together to improve the offer. – I understand the frustration when the ferry doesn’t run. We must have predictability in ferry traffic. This is a problem in several places, and we will raise the matter with other counties, promises Eiden. County deputy mayor Pål Sæther Eiden believes that all parties must work together to find a solution. Photo: Rita Kleven Both the Ministry of Trade and Fisheries and the Ministry of Transport are involved in the case. – Collective punishment Also in Møre and Romsdal, sick transport leads to ferry settings. Between Eidsdal and Linge, the application for dispensation for the rest time rules has been refused. On Monday, the earliest trips were canceled due to ambulance assignments. This frustrates Hilde Ljøen Melchior, who depends on the ferry to get to work. – Should someone be unlucky enough to need health care, it will be a collective punishment so that we don’t get out of our villages, she says. During the winter months, there are an average of two emergency trips per month at night in connection. – We are now working together with Fjord1 and the emergency operators to put solutions in place as soon as possible, says Stig Helle-Tautra. He is head of department in Fram in Møre and Romsdal county municipality. Hilde Ljøen Melchior and her husband Roy Johnny Meek depend on the ferry for both work and leisure activities. Photo: Malin Kjellstadli Korsnes / news Hope they look at the requirements again In Nordland and Westland, the frustration is equally great. – We have several examples where previous dispensations from ordinary rest time provisions have been withdrawn. The consequence has either been reduced route offerings or increased staffing, says Marianne Dobak Kvensjø. She is the county councilor for transport in Nordland. Marianne Dobak Kvensjø is county councilor for transport in Nordland. Photo: Kåre Riibe Ramskjell / news Arve Helle (Ap) is leader of the main committee for transport and mobility in Vestland county municipality. He believes that the new practice raises questions as to whether the arrangement with preparedness can be continued in the same way as before. – This may lead to the cancellation of ordinary departures. It is very unfortunate for our travellers, and can be challenging to fulfill the statutory school transport. – We believe that it is the health organizations that are responsible for financing the basic emergency preparedness, and any additional costs from having extra staff on board. Sorry for the problems. The company Torghatten Midt operates many of the ferries in Trøndelag and Nordland. CEO Mariann Grønseth apologizes for the problems that have arisen, but says there is little they can do. – We want to deliver an offer that is predictable. But it must not come at the expense of safety. We must comply with the framework set by legislation and the maritime authorities for our operations. Managing director Mariann Grønseth in Torghatten Midt says that they must comply with the legislation, and take safety seriously. Photo: Anders Werner Øfsti Trøndelag county council now promises that the matter will be given high priority. – First we have to consult with the operators about what we can achieve now, and in the long term we will talk with other counties, with the ministry, the Norwegian Maritime Directorate, and the organisations. Together we must find out how to solve this, says Pål Sæther Eiden.
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Ferry trips along the coast are canceled due to emergency patient transports – news Trøndelag – Local news, TV and radio
