Ferry company Stena Line has said it is determined to keep its services going in strict adherence to Government guidelines on travel and the latest medical advice on helping to reduce the risk of spreading Covid-19.
Stena, the biggest ferry company in Europe, said its business has been impacted significantly by the outbreak of coronavirus.
But it said that all of its ferries are continuing to run on schedule, despite some services having restricted passenger numbers in order ensure strict social distancing guidelines are adhered to.
Stena Line operates 252 crossings on the Irish Sea and 2.6 million passengers travel across the Irish Sea with it every year. It also carries 750,000 freight units between Ireland and the UK.
Stena Line said it has introduced several additional measures on top of its existing high health and safety standards in a bid to help safeguard its passengers and crew during the Covid-19 crisis.
These include staged embarkation and disembarkation, with all arriving passengers asked to clean hands, as well as making hand sanitisers available for customers and staff use throughout their crossings.
The company said that ‘high contact’ surfaces on ferries are sanitised on a regular basis, while freight drivers are being allocated their own cabins
Stena also said that social distancing measures continue to be implemented in line with governmental recommendations, while cashless payments are requested in all payment points and personal protective equipment (PPE) kits have been issued for staff.
The ferry company also that it is using contactless thermometers to help should someone show any symptoms while onboard and isolation cabins have been allocated and set aside should they be needed.
Stephen Bryden, Group Head of Onboard Sales & Services at Stena Line, said the company really is in uncharted waters.
“Keeping our customers and colleagues safe while keeping our important services operational is our main priority at the moment,” he said.
Mr Bryden said the company is acutely aware of the responsibility it has to help maintain vital supply lines between the UK and Ireland, as well as Continental Europe.
“Our services and work colleagues will be put under immense strain in the weeks and months ahead. We appreciate people will still need to travel for essential reasons and we will be there to support them,” he said.
He said that now, more than ever, freight supply lines are vital to help keep the supermarkets stocked and ensure critical medicines and medical equipment are delivered.
“We will do everything within our means to keep these important logistics routes open and functioning,” Mr Bryden added.