A ferry loaded with more than 300 passengers was held overnight after six members of the crew tested positive for coronavirus.
The Stena Line ship, due to travel from Merseyside to Belfast, was held at Birkenhead overnight on Tuesday.
Passengers were due to disembark the Stena Edda in Belfast on Wednesday morning.
However, they disembarked at Birkenhead and were moved onto the Stena Mersey, which is due to set sail for Belfast on Wednesday afternoon.
A spokesman for the ferry operator said: "None of the affected crew members were customer facing and Port Health Authorities have confirmed that there is no risk to passengers who have now left the vessel.
"Disembarkation was completed at 11:45 this morning. They are being transferred to the Stena Mersey, which is due to set sail for Belfast shortly.
“The welfare of our passengers and crew are our priority.”
In an earlier statement, the spokesman said 322 passengers and 53 staff were onboard.
He added: “The six crew members who tested positive for Covid-19 are being cared for and are doing well, with only mild symptoms.
“Fifteen close contacts have been identified and are self-isolating.
“Stena Line is liaising closely with public health authorities on this matter who have advised us that we should disembark the vessel in Birkenhead."
