A ferry ran aground in southern Sweden on Sunday. The 75 passengers were quickly brought to safety, the authorities said. The ship therefore lost diesel over a distance of several kilometers, which reached the coast in the late afternoon.
According to the coast guard, the TT Line ferry “Marco Polo” ran aground south of Karlshamn on Sunday morning. Due to dense fog, it was initially difficult to determine the extent of the oil slick. Preliminary investigations have been initiated due to a possible violation of maritime law, said the coast guard’s chief investigator, Jonatan Örn, to the public broadcaster P4.
The ferry runs between Karlshamn and Trelleborg. She deviated from her route when she ran aground, Örn said. The oil slick reached the coast of Sölvesborg municipality late in the afternoon, local authorities said. The civil protection authority will begin cleaning work on Monday.
The ferry’s hull was damaged in the front and middle areas, allowing water to enter the ship. But there is no danger of the ship sinking, a representative of the transport authorities told the Swedish news agency TT.
