GNV Azzurra ferry accidents and incidents

21 September 2017Other Incidents

On September 21, 2017, was announced that GNV accepted an agreement with the Spanish Ministry of Home Affairs to charter the ferry as a hotel ship in Port Barcelona. The ferry was used for housing thousands of police officers deployed in Barcelona to suppress the Catalans rioting towards independence referendum.

According to online media sources, the ship housed some of the total 16,000 police and security forces. They were deployed in advance of the scheduled for October 1 (2017) referendum - passed by the Parliament of Catalonia but declared illegal by Spain’s highest court. These forces were used to control pro-independence campaigners, as well as for arrests of local officials and raids of Catalonia-government offices prior to the referendum.

In addition to GNV Azzurra, Spain also chartered two other ferries (Moby Dada and GNV Rhapsody) to accommodate the riot police. The vessels were cleared to stay until October 5.

• Moby Dada was berthed at Prince of Spain Dock, accommodating around 1000 people.
• GNV Rhapsody was berthed at Lepant Dock, accommodating around 2000 people.
• GNV Azzurra was berthed at Port de Tarragona, accommodating around 800 people.

On September 22, 2017, Port Barcelona stevedores (dockworkers) voted not to supply the berthed hotel ships accommodating police reinforcements. According to internal sources, the port had no choice and admitted the liners as they were considered State vessels.

22 March 2007Fire Accident

(MS Peter Wessel) On March 22, 2007, the ship suffered a fire accident in one of the onboard electric switchboards. The ferry was re-routed to Frederikshavn Denmark for repairs. It re-entered service on April 26, 2007.

27 June 1986Ship Collision / Allision

(MS Peter Wessel) On June 27, 1986. the ferry collided with MS Sydfjord. Following the collision, MS Sydfjord ship sunk. Of its crew, 3 men were evacuated on the ferry. Sadly, in the accident died the ship's Captain and his family.