VIRAK

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Sea King and lifeboat sent to assist disabled ferry

On Sep 9, 2017, at 11 p.m. the "Virak", enroute from Misten, encountered engine problems in the Mistfjord on the way to Kjerringøy and stopped amidst the water. Both a Sea King SAR helicopter and lifeboat were sent to assist the ferry which was drifting close to the shore. The crew mamanged to start an auxiliary engine so they hold their position until the lifeboat arrived and towed the ferry to the dock at Festvåg where repairs started.

Disabled ferry blocks berth

The "Virak" had to be taken out of the Kjerringøy service from Misten to Festvåg due to gear and engine trouble on Mar 18, 2016. The ferry had undergone maintenance work on the gear on Mar 17, but when the ferry crew planned to depart the next morning from Festvåg, something went wrong. The gear and part of the main engines were damaged, and the ferry could not be moved away from the dock. Therefore also the spare ferry "Kjerringøy" could not be inserted on the route. To get the "Virak" away from the pier, a certified tug was needed, but such could not to be found. A tug was called from Dønna but was not on site before 6 p.m. The operator tried to find alternative solutions so that traffic could get started earlier. 60-70 cars had queued during the afternoon. At 6 p.m. the disabled ferry was towed away to Bodø. Norwegian report with photo: http://www.an.no/nyheter/samferdsel/bodo/her-sleper-de-problem-ferga-som-blokkerte-all-trafikk/s/5-4-279081

Ferry circled on the fjord

On Mar 1, 2016, the "Virak" suffered problems with the rudder and circled in the middle of the fjord around 8 a.m. The crew found a leak in one of the steering gears and manoevered the ferry in a circle while sealing it off. There were four passengers on board. The ferry was trying to reverse back to the port of Festvåg where the cars were to be switched onto the ferry "Kjerringøy" (IMO: 7825588). It reached the dock at 08:30 a.m. The operator Torghatten Nord AS cancelled sailings of the ferry on the route Festvåg - Misten until further notice due to the technical problems. Norwegian report with photo: http://www.an.no/nyheter/ferge/bodo/ferge-kjorte-i-sirkel-midtfjords/s/5-4-270039