Faroese ferry operator cleared of negligence in Galaxy stern ramp incident

An independent legal review has found no evidence that Faroese state ferry operator Strandfaraskip Landsins failed to properly inspect or repair the stern ramp on the Galaxy before its reported malfunction last September, according to a report published Wednesday by Faroese national broadcaster KVF.

Lawyer Gunn Ellefsen, who led the investigation, concluded that the company had fulfilled its maintenance obligations and that no prior negligence could be established in the case of the open stern ramp, which was reported at 19:36 on 1 September 2025.

Ellefsen’s mandate included assessing whether Strandfaraskip Landsins had documented the inspection and repair work, evaluated whether staffing levels and procedures were adequate, and determined if any deficiencies in these processes contributed to the incident. The review confirmed that all requirements had been met.

While the report noted that internal emails between the company’s former director and operations manager contained “phrasing that does not reflect a general sense of responsibility,” Ellefsen clarified that these communications did not affect the investigation’s core findings. She added that if Strandfaraskip Landsins had not assumed financial responsibility for the incident, it would have been “formally justified” for the company to limit its involvement in the case.