Shipping company Stena Line has suspended one of its ferries from service between Hoek van Holland and Harwich after 16 members of the 60-strong crew were found to have coronavirus, the AD reported on Friday.

The shipping line said earlier this week that one member of the Stena Hollandica crew had symptoms and now mass testing has identified further cases, the AD said. It is unclear as yet if the crew have the new variant of the virus which was first identified in the UK.

The ship will remain in the dock in the Netherlands until the crew have been given the all clear, which probably means no crossings until Saturday at least, the AD said.

Stena Line has also decided not to take any passengers apart from lorry drivers on the Hollandica for the time being, but will take them on the Britannica, the other ferry which works the same route, a spokesman told DutchNews.nl.

The ships normally offer accommodation for 1,200 passengers and 230 cars and lorries.