More than 300 passengers have been stranded on a ferry overnight after six crew members tested positive for coronavirus.

The Liverpool to Belfast Stena Line was held in Birkenhead due to the outbreak, with 322 passengers and 53 crew members on-board. They have since been told by public health authorities to disembark in Birkenhead, the BBC reports.

The six crew members who tested positive are said to be ‘doing well’ and have mild symptoms of the virus.

A further 15 people identified as close contacts of the staff members will now also isolate for 10 days.

A spokesperson for Stena Line, which operates multiple ferry and freight routes across the Irish Sea, confirmed that six members of the Stena Edda had tested positive for the virus.

They said they were advised by the Port Health Authorities to hold the vessel in Birkenhead as a precaution.

They went on: ‘Stena Line is liaising closely with public health authorities on this matter who have advised us that we should disembark the vessel in Birkenhead. The welfare of our passengers and crew is paramount at this time.

‘The passengers are being catered for and we will assist them with alternative travel arrangements.’

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