Strong winds delay passenger ferries arrival in Helsinki

Strong winds in Helsinki complicated the arrival of passenger ferries on Thursday. The Silja Serenade and M/S Gabriella, arriving from Stockholm, were forced to wait outside the harbor before entering. One passenger, Ulla Ahola from Stockholm, commented on her experience aboard the Viking Gabriella. Scheduled to arrive at 10 AM, the vessel finally docked around 12:30 PM. “It was a bit stressful,” she remarked about the delays at the Katajanokka terminal.

Nina Rasmus, also traveling to Helsinki, was unbothered by the wait. “The crew regularly informed us about what was happening. You could see from the window that it was windy outside,” she said.

Passenger Ronald Wiman noted the rough seas, particularly while the ship was anchored offshore waiting for entry. However, the delay did not trouble him either, as he is retired and doesn’t have pressing commitments. “Many were feeling unwell, but we had no issues. The waves in the harbor were so strong that, as a boater, I thought the landing would be pretty tough,” he reported.

According to harbor master Staffan Teromaan, both vessels made it to the dock successfully, despite the effects of Storm Jari. A tugboat was on standby in the harbor, although it was ultimately unnecessary. Teromaan explained that the persistent high winds at Kustaanmiekka and in the harbor were significant contributors to the delays, with gusts reaching up to 20 meters per second. “We initially dispatched the Viking XPRS according to schedule to ensure more space in the harbor for both Silja Serenade and Viking Gabriella,” he added.