Passenger ship runs aground in Finland; 27 evacuated

A passenger ship ran aground on Tuesday in Monikkaselkä, Heinävesi, near the Valamo Monastery, prompting a rescue operation for the 27 passengers and two crew members on board.

The rescue services evacuated all passengers to the shore of the Valamo Monastery. Fortunately, no injuries were reported as a result of the incident, which occurred shortly before noon. The rescue operation concluded around 2 p.m.

According to Sami Meriläinen, the duty fire chief for the North Karelia Rescue Services, the vessel, identified as M/S Sergei, did not show any signs of leaks. The ship was able to return to shore after some weight was removed, reducing its draft. M/S Sergei operates commercial cruises and had departed from the monastery's shore for a nearly two-hour tour.

The grounding occurred as the ship was turning back towards the monastery's shore. Meriläinen suggested the vessel may have drifted off course for an unspecified reason, leading to the grounding.

Meriläinen noted that water levels in Eastern Finland's inland waters are currently very low. He cautioned that this situation poses difficulties for water traffic and requires careful navigation. "Inland waters are really low in our area right now. You have to be careful when you move on the water," he stated, adding that the full impact of the low water levels might become more apparent as the main boating season begins.

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Inland waters are really low in our area right now. You have to be careful when you move on the water.