You can feel secure aboard Viking Line's vessels

We assume responsibility for the safety of both our passengers and employees, and we do everything possible to create the safest and most secure voyage for everyone. All those on board, regardless of their requirements and wishes, shall be able to enjoy their voyage in peace, without needing to worry about safety.

Our vessels feature state-of-the-art technology and equipment, and our employees have the necessary knowledge and practice to deal with any emergencies.

In addition to safety, Viking Line assumes responsibility for the environment. In its current environmental work, Viking Line is developing its operations to meet the standards required by an environmental management system and ISO 14001 international certification. Our aim is to improve our environmental work continuously and to keep the general public informed of our progress. The information symbol indicates where on board your vessel you can get information about any safety-related questions. Have a nice voyage!

Knowledge and state-of-the-art technology

It is crucial for your security that we practice good seamanship. This implies a respect for the sea and a concern for your safety and that of your fellow passengers, as well as a knowledge that the crew, vessel and equipment work properly.
Our on-board technology is modern and first-class. Even on our older vessels, we have completely updated the safety technology to comply with the latest standards and regulations. Control panels both on the bridge and in the engine control room provide continuous information on what is happening on board: on the vehicle deck, in the engine room and elsewhere.

To discover fires, detectors in the cabins, corridors, restaurants, galleys, vehicle decks etc are directly linked to these control panels, which are constantly being watched. Your safety is monitored continuously. To increase safety, we supplement these technical monitoring systems with trained watchmen, who make regular rounds throughout the vessel to double-check that everything is as it should be.
You can rely on our on-board safety monitoring systems.

Everything is thoroughly checked

On-board safety equipment is checked daily. Maritime authorities inspect the vessel and check its safety procedures at least once a year. Before every departure, the ship’s officers go through a checklist to ensure that the vessel is seaworthy. Among other things, they make sure that hatches, doors and ramps are securely shut and that all navigation instruments are operational. During voyage, safety monitoring is provided both by technical systems and the watchmen making their rounds.

Loading of motor vehicles on board the vehicle deck is strictly controlled. The weight of trailer trucks, buses and cars is evenly distributed. Containers and cargo platforms are carefully secured as needed. The vehicle deck is continuously monitored by television cameras and monitors on the bridge and in the engine control room. For safety reasons, visiting the vehicle deck during the voyage is prohibited.

Safety organisation

Our safety team on board
The officers in charge of the vessel have the main responsibility for safety on board. Each crewmember has been thoroughly drilled to perform particular tasks in case anything should happen. The crew has been divided into teams: management, fire, evacuation, lifeboat, medical care, security, information, ”man overboard”, leakage and helicopter teams. Participation in regular safety drills is obligatory for all crewmembers, and their participation in each drill is recorded.

In 1993, Viking Line was the first shipping company on the Baltic Sea to be certified as complying with the International Safety Management Code (ISMC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The IMO is a specialized agency of the United Nations. Viking Line complies fully with IMO safety regulations.

Our safety team on land
Our land-based team is also prepared for emergency situations. There are various groups on land that help ferries take care of their passengers and crew in an emergency. Should an emergency arise, the alarm is raised with the land-based team, who assemble immediately to provide help and support to the ferry. The members of the land-based team perform their duties according to a prearranged emergency preparedness plan. If you would like to find out about the reactions that people may experience following an upsetting or traumatic event, please have a look at the leaflet » produced by the Finnish Red Cross in association with Viking Line.

We adapt to the prevailing weather conditions

Weather and wind affect our vessels to some extent. Stabilizors minimize their tendency to roll. To ensure that you and your fellow passengers will be safe and comfortable, we adapt our routes and speeds to the prevailing weather conditions. When our vessels are at sea, the pilot and bunker hatches are always locked and the portholes on the vehicle deck always furnished with ”storm hatches”.
The safety of the vessel is more important than our timetable. In case of rough weather, delays may occur.

In case of fire on board

To discover any fire as soon as possible, all vessels have fire warning systems. Each vessel has its own fire brigade, and fire patrols take place continuously throughout the vessel. Fire hydrants are strategically located everywhere on board. In addition, there are fixed fire extinguishing systems in the engine room, galleys, vehicle deck and elsewhere. The vessel also has effective mobile fire extinguishing equipment that goes into service quickly in case of fire.
Each vessel has 6-10 specially trained fire fighters on board at any given time. If a fire occurs, the vessel’s fire extinguishing team will be on the spot within a minute or so.

Thoroughly drilled procedures in case of evacuation

If there is a need to evacuate those on board a vessel, there are thoroughly drilled
procedures for each deck. The decks, in turn, are divided into sections with specially equipped evacuation teams, whose job is to help passengers reach the muster stations. In case of alarm, employees go through every cabin to ensure that everyone has left. Evacuation directions are posted inside the door of each cabin.
The way to your muster station - that is, the corridors, lobby etc - are furnished with illuminated green signs. At floor levels, the corridors are marked with fluorescent
mouldings and luminescent light fixtures. Each area of the vessel has two exits to the muster station. Never use the lift (elevator) in an emergency!
An alarm will sound via the public loudspeaker system (7 short signals and 1 long) and will be audible everywhere on board. Crewmembers practise these evacuation procedures regularly.

There are lifejackets for everyone

There are more lifejackets on board than the maximum number of passengers allowed. So you will never need to worry about there not being enough lifejackets.
The lifejackets meet all the standards specified by maritime authorities. They are stored in the immediate vicinity of the muster stations. There are also lifejackets for children. The crew will distribute the lifejackets at the muster station.

Life boats and rafts

In case the vessel is to be evacuated, there is room for all passengers and crewmembers in the lifeboats and rafts that are on board.
Passengers will embark in the lifeboats at their muster station. The boats will be launched using a davit (crane). The lifeboats will be manoeuvred by the crew.
Life rafts will either be activated on board, in which case passengers will embark at their muster station and the rafts will be launched by crane, or the rafts will first be lowered into the sea, in which case embarkation will take place using a slide system.
Life rafts contain all the necessary equipment: water, paddles, lighting devices, emergency flares, first aid equipment etc.

Please contact the vessel’s information counter in case of serious illness

There is always a trained medical orderly on board Viking Line’s vessels. On route Mariehamn-Kapellskär accidents and cases of illness are being treated by competent trained crew. The vessel’s sickroom is furnished with special equipment for care of those who suddenly fall ill. If necessary, we arrange an immediate ambulance from the first port of call to the nearest hospital.
If there is a medical emergency, please contact the vessel’s information counter, which in turn will contact the medical orderly on board.