Stena Line ferry sailings resume after Covid cancellations

Only one vessel is affected but four sailings on the Cairnryan to Belfast route were cancelled

Stena Line has resumed ferry services between Scotland and Northern Ireland, which were earlier disrupted due to a positive Covid-19 test among its crew.

One crew member on the Cairnryan to Larne ferry received a positive result from a lateral flow test, causing the company to take action on Wednesday.

It cancelled a number of sailings on Wednesday night and Thursday morning while the whole crew were tested.

No further cases were identified and sailings resumed with knock-on delays.

The company apologised to customers who were affected by the earlier cancellations but said it had acted in accordance with its "comprehensive safety protocol procedures".

Stena Line said the crew member who tested positive had now left the ferry, along with a number of their colleagues who were identified as close contacts.

These employees were all now self-isolating and "doing well", the company said.

"The vessel has resumed service, with today's delayed 11:30 departure from Cairnryan to Belfast," it added.