322 passengers were stranded overnight in Birkenhead (a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, Merseyside, England) after 6 crew tested COVID-positive on Stena Line's 2020-built ship Stena Edda (cruiseferry).
On Wednesday, December 18, the Belfast-bound cruiseferry docked at Stena Line Liverpool Terminal (on Mersey River) was advised by port health authorities not to allow passenger debarkation or leave Birkenhead after the 6 crew were found to have Coronavirus.
Stena Line confirmed it was helping all the 322 travelers find alternative travel.
A spokesperson for the company said:
“Stena Line can confirm that following full testing of the Stena Edda crew last night, six members tested positive for Covid-19. In line with our safety protocols we alerted the port health authorities, who advised us to hold the vessel in Birkenhead as a precaution.
“Three hundred and twenty-two passengers and 53 crew were onboard. The six crew members who tested positive for Covid-19 are being cared for and are doing well, with only mild symptoms.”
Stena Line confirmed that of the 6 crew who tested positive, "none were in passenger-facing or onboard services roles."
According to port health authorities, there was no risk to passengers, who had left the ferry.
Stena Line said disembarkation had been completed at 11:45 am. The COVID-positive crew were transferred to Stena Mersey, which was scheduled to set sail for Belfast Wednesday afternoon.
Tests were distributed to the rest of the crew to check for COVID-19, Stena Line said. The company added the vessel would be sanitized afterward.