The ferries in Norway do not only sail on calm seas. Crew shortages, storms and technical problems create headaches for both shipping companies and passengers. For example in Vestland, where people want the old diesel ferry back. The ferry county of Nordland has not escaped the problems either. The Norwegian Public Roads Administration has now settled the status of the four connections that operate on national roads E10 and E6 through the county. Over 700 ferry departures in Nordland were made on these roads this summer. Manpower shortages are to blame for almost 500 of these. – There are several shipping companies that have had to cancel ferry departures during the summer due to crew shortages, but not to the same extent as in Nordland. That’s what Marte Sørø in the Norwegian Public Roads Administration tells news. And now comes the bill for the ferries that never ran due to lack of crew. NOK 13 million in deductions so far The Bognes–Lødingen link is Northern Norway’s busiest. 117 departures were canceled due to crew shortages this summer. Sørø explains that the reason for the many cancellations is made up of several reasons. – The biggest differences between connections in Nordland and elsewhere are the seasonal variations between summer and the rest of the year. Torghatten Nord must hire far more temporary workers in the summer to carry out the summer production under contract. The Swedish Road Administration can make deductions from the payment to the shipping companies when there are deviations from the contract. Weather and technical problems are beyond the shipping companies’ control. The Norwegian Public Roads Administration cannot charge the shipping companies for that. Manpower shortages, on the other hand, are grounds for reductions in payment. This is what the Norwegian Public Roads Administration has now used. Marte Sørø in the Norwegian Public Roads Administration. Photo: Anniken Westad / Statens vegvesen – For the “Vestfjorden” contract, a withdrawal of around NOK 2.2 million has been made. In addition, the Norwegian Road Administration has announced a price reduction of NOK 8 million, says Sørø. The ferry connection Bognes – Lødingen is Northern Norway’s busiest, much due to tourism in the summer. The Lødingen ferry quay is pictured here. Photo: Statens vegvesen For the other connections, Bognes – Skarberget and Drag – Kjøpsvik, a draw of around NOK 3 million has been made. A price reduction will also be made here. The size of this is not yet clear, says Sørø. The total will be over NOK 13 million, but the sum is expected to rise. Sørø says that it is not new that the Norwegian Public Roads Administration makes such price reductions and states that this has been done in several cases when the contract has not been fulfilled. Torkild Torkildsen is managing director of Torghatten Nord. He says that the company is now starting preparations earlier to avoid similar problems in the future. – Strenuous summer – We have had extended capacity in the summer for many years. The situation this summer became particularly stressful. We will learn from that and it will be better next year. He says that manpower shortages have been a regular occurrence throughout the industry. Torkild Torkildsen, CEO of Torghatten Nord. Photo: Roger Karlsen / Roger Karlsen – But it has been particularly difficult where route production is increased as violently as it has been in parts of Nordland. Torkildsen does not want to comment on the amount they are now being deducted, but says that they are still working on the detailed material and have not taken a stand on the price rejection yet.
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The Swedish Road Administration withdraws subsidies to Torghatten after canceled ferry departures – news Nordland
