Stena Edda Fast Facts
| Current Name: Stena Edda | Previous Names: Avic Weihai W0264 / Zhonghang 264 (yard names) |
| Shipyard: China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Weihai) Co. Ltd. [CN], W0264, W0264 | IMO Number: 9807308 |
| Current Operator: Stena Line Irish Sea | Current Route: Belfast [NI] - Liverpool (Birkenhead) [GB] |
| Length Overall: | Beam: |
| Passenger Capacity: 1,000 (including crew) | Vehicle Capacity: 3,100 lane metres of freight (plus 120 passenger cars in their own dedicated garage on deck 7) |
| Tonnage: 41,671 | Sister-ships: Stena Estrid, Stena Embla * |
Intro to Stena Edda
Stena Edda is the first of two brand-new ferries being introduced on the Belfast to Liverpool (Birkenhead) route by Stena Line in 2020 and 2021. She is second of five new “next-generation” E-Flexer class ferries ordered by Stena RoRo for service with sister-company Stena Line. STENA EDDA is a direct-sister to the first in the series, STENA ESTRID.
Delivery Voyage
STENA EDDA was delivered to Stena at Weihai on January 15, 2020 – exactly two months to the day after her sister was delivered. She left Weihai under the command of Senior Master Captain Neil Whittaker for the first leg of her delivery voyage on January 22. Captain Whittaker was also part of the Stena Line site team at Weihai overseeing the construction of STENA ESTRID and STENA EDDA.
Because of the length of the journey, like STENA ESTRID, STENA EDDA made several stops on the way. The first of these was at Singapore, where the vessel took on sufficient bunkers to get to Europe. After a stop at Algeciras she set course for Belfast.
U.K. Arrival
Following arrival in Belfast Lough on 25.02.20, Stena Edda stayed at Anchor off Groomsport until the following morning. Prior to sunrise she made her way to Belfast Victoria Terminal 2 for berthing trials, becoming the first ferry to berth at the rebuilt berth.
On the 28.02.20, STENA EDDA completed berthing trials at Belfast VT4, Loch Ryan Port, and 12 Quays South at Birkenhead. She remained at Birkenhead, apart from some trips up river as part of her commissioning, until she entered commercial service. During this period final adjustments were made to the passenger accommodation by both contractors such as Norgi, and crew. Crew training and all required drills were also completed.
STENA EDDA‘s maiden commercial voyage took place under the command of Captain Krzysztof (Kris) Gadomski with the overnight voyage from Birkenhead to Belfast on 09.03.20. This was just two weeks ahead of the announcement of the UK’s COVID-19 coronavirus lockdown on March 23.
Deployment
The brand-new ferry replaced STENA LAGAN which had served the Belfast – Liverpool route since being delivered new to Norse Merchant Ferries in 2005. The route and its ships were subsequently taken over by Norfolk Line and DFDS before passing into Stena Line ownership in 2010/11.
Initially, STENA EDDA will sail opposite STENA MERSEY until the latter goes for rebuilding Turkey. In January 2021 near-sister STENA EMBLA will join STENA EDDA on the Belfast – Liverpool (Birkenhead) service. Both STENA LAGAN and STENA MERSEY are to be rebuilt for service elsewhere. STENA LAGAN left for her rebuild shortly after she was replaced by ‘Edda‘.
Longest
At 214.5m in length, STENA EDDA is the joint longest passenger ferry (with STENA ESTRID) in operation on Irish Sea services. She is also currently the longest ferry to ever serve Northern Ireland and the largest ferry by gross tonnage (41,671 gt) to ever enter scheduled service at both Belfast and Birkenhead.
To coincide with her introduction, Belfast Harbour and Peel Ports invested in upgrading the berthing facilities at Belfast VT2 and Birkenhead 12 Quays South to allow twin-level loading at both ports. As a result, STENA EDDA and STENA EMBLA will be able to load and unload within the same time as the existing ships, despite their far greater vehicle capacity.
Design and Build
The E-Flexer class was designed by Stena RoRo and Deltamarin for use by sister company Stena Line and for charter to other operators. It is the product of a collaboration between Stena RoRo, Stena Line, marine architect Deltamarin, Stena Teknik, interior architect Figura, and Weihai Shipyard in China.
Designed to be more environmentally friendly and efficient than existing ferries, Stena’s E-Flexer design has also be designed to be flexible and is suitable for numerous routes from short day crossings to overnight services. Because of this flexibility, it is possible that STENA EDDA could cover for STENA ESTRID on the shorter Dublin – Holyhead route and vice-versa. STENA ESTRID and STENA EDDA are the first of nine vessels currently ordered based on the E-Flexer design.
STENA EDDA took 25 months to construct from the start of steel cutting until delivery. Like most modern vessels, she was assembled from blocks in a building dock and floated out rather than launched from a traditional slipway. From keel laying to float out took 10 months. Nine months of fitting out, commissioning, and trials followed before the vessel was delivered five days early on January 15 2020.
Although construction took place in China, European suppliers played a key role in the project with items such as glazing and the main engines shipped from Europe. Because of the scale of the E-Flexer project, outfitter R&M built a dedicated climate-controlled cabin production facility on-site in cooperation with the shipyard. STENA EDDA made her maiden commercial voyage with the 21:30 departure from Birkenhead on March 9, 2020. As expected, she has replaced STENA LAGAN in the fleet.
Edda?
Stena Line are using a new naming scheme with their E-Flexer vessels, choosing to use female Nordic names beginning with “E” with the usual Stena prefix. The names of the first three vessels were chosen via a staff competition. According to Stena Line, Edda:
is an old Norse term that refers to a central medieval collection of poems and divine mythology.
http://news.stenaline.co.uk/pressreleases/stena-lines-second-next-generation-ferry-stena-edda-floats-out-in-china-2861112
Onboard Passenger Facilities
The passenger facilities on STENA EDDA are spread out over 4 decks as follows. Public facilities are housed on Deck’s 7 and 8, the latter of which also house approximately half of the passenger cabins. Deck 9 is a cabin and crew deck while Deck 10 is at the top of the ship and has a passenger accessible sun deck.
A total of 175 passenger cabins are provided including six deluxe cabins and disabled cabins. This is a significant increase in the number of cabins provided on STENA LAGAN and STENA MERSEY.
Outside deck space is plentiful, with promenade decks on both sides of deck 7, a sun deck on deck 10, and outside decks aft on decks 8 and 9. The spaces on decks 8 and 9 also double up as balconies for the deluxe cabins.
For a detailed impression of how STENA EDDA looks inside, see our first look inside Stena Estrid feature. STENA EDDA is virtually identical to her sister with only minor cosmetic changes inside.
Stena Edda Internal Layout plan
Stena Edda Deck 7 Facilities and Layout Plan
- Dedicated car deck with direct walk-through access to the passenger facilities.
- Guest Services.
- ‘Barista’ Coffee House.
- Outlet Onboard (shop).
- ‘Happy World’ children’s play area and lounge.
- ‘Taste’ restaurant with digital menu boards.
- Two outside promenade decks with smoking section (port / starboard).
- Twelve temperature controlled enclosed dog kennels with owner access via key code.
- Male, Female, and Disabled Toilets and Baby Changing area.
- Free Wi-Fi access.
Stena Edda Deck 7 Plan
Stena Edda Deck 8 Facilities and Layout Plan
- ‘Stena Plus’ premium lounge (additional fee applies) with table service and dedicated toilet facilities.
- ‘Hygge’ recline lounge (additional fee applies).
- Interactive ‘Experience wall’.
- The ‘Living Room’ lounge.
- ‘Truckers’ commercial drivers lounge and restaurant.
- Video games and gaming area.
- ‘Happy World’ children’s play room.
- The ‘Sky Bar’ bar and lounge.
- Two free movie lounges.
- A selection of passenger cabins including three deluxe cabins with balcony access and disabled cabin. All cabins are secured using a digital ‘VingCard’ system and have an infotainment TV system installed.
- Male, Female, and Disabled Toilets.
- Free Wi-Fi access.
- Outside deck space aft.
Stena Edda Deck 8 Plan
Stena Edda Deck 9 Facilities and Layout Plan
- A selection of passenger cabins including three deluxe cabins with balcony access and a disabled cabin. All cabins are secured using a digital ‘VingCard’ system and have an infotainment TV system installed.
- The remainder of Deck 9 is occupied by crew accommodation areas and the navigation bridge.
- Free Wi-Fi access.
- Outside deck space aft.
- Crew facilities and cabins
Stena Edda Deck 9 Plan
Stena Edda Deck 10 Facilities and Layout Plan
- Sun Deck.
Stena Edda Deck 10 Plan
Key Dates – Stena Edda
| 11.03.2016 | Contract date (according to DNV-GL) |
| 05.04.2016 | Stena confirms that an order has been signed by Stena RoRo for 4 “E-Flexer” ferries plus four options at AVIC Weihai. The second of these would become Stena Edda. |
| 15.12.2017 | Steel cutting started |
| 15.6.2018 | Keel laid |
| 15.4.2019 | Floated out and outfitting started |
| 10.12.2019 | Start of sea trials |
| 14.12.2019 | Sea trials completed |
| 15.01.2020 | Vessel completion and delivery |
| 16.01.20 | Switched from UK to Cypriot registry. Home port now Limassol (previously Belfast) |
| 22.01.2020 (at approx 13:30 local time, UTC +8) | Set sail from Weihai to Europe |
| 29.01.2020 | Arrival in Singapore to take on supplies and bunkers |
| 03.02.2020 | Outside port limits call at Galle |
| 13.02.2020 (UK time) / 14.02.2020 (Local time UTC +8) | Started transit of the Suez Canal |
| 20.02.2020 | First arrival in Europe (Algeciras) |
| 25.02.2020 | First arrival in the UK (Belfast) |
| 26.02.2020 | Berthing trials at Belfast VT2 |
| 28.02.2020 | Berthing trials at Belfast VT4, Loch Ryan Port, and Birkenhead (PM) |
| 9th March 2020 | Entry into service, Liverpool (Birkenhead) – Belfast, 21:30 ex Birkenhead |
| 10.03.2020 | First commercial arrival in Belfast and first sailing direct to Birkenhead |
| 15.12.2020 | After a number of non-passenger facing crew members tested positive for Covid-19, the ship remained at Birkenhead instead of sailing overnight to Belfast. All passengers were transferred to STENA MERSEY the following morning. |
Stena Edda Technical Data
|
Stena Edda | |
| IMO Number | 9807308 |
| Callsign | 5BLE5 |
| Class | Stena “E-Flexer” Passenger and Ro-Ro Cargo (Ro-Pax) ferry |
| Building Yard | China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Weihai) Co., Ltd., Shandong Province, China (previously known as AVIC Weihai Shipyard Co., Ltd) |
| Design | Stena / Deltamarin |
| Naval Architect | Deltamarin, Turku, Finland |
| Project Management | Stena RoRo Deltamarin, Turku, Finland (EPCM) |
|
Interior designer and architect |
Figura Arkitekter, Gothenburg, Sweden |
| Delivery and installation of public spaces, galleys, & cabins | R&M (Rheinhold & Mahla), Hamburg, Germany / Weihai, China |
| Galley Equipment | Aluminox SA, Greece |
|
Contract date | Ordered by Stena RoRo on 11th March, 2016 |
Hull Number | W0264 |
Certification | Class: DNV GL Class 1C Type: 410 – Car Ferry Additional class notations: 1A Ferry(A) BIS BWM(T) Clean COMF(V-2) E0 Gas ready(D, MEC) Ice(1C) NAUT(AW) Recyclable TMON VIBR |
| Operator | Stena Line Irish Sea Ferries Ltd, Birkenhead, England |
| Vessel Management | Stena Line |
| In service (Stena Line) | |
Route | Belfast – Liverpool (Birkenhead) |
| Length Overall | 214.5 m |
| Length BP | 202.5m |
Beam | 27.8 m (28.43 extreme) |
| Draught | 6.4 m |
Gross Tonnage | 41,671 GT |
| DWT | 9,777 |
| Number of decks | 10 (3 passenger decks plus sun deck) |
Machinery | 2 x Caterpillar MaK 12 M43 C gas (Methanol or LNG) ready V12 4-stroke marine diesel propulsion engines built by Caterpillar Motoren Rostock GmbH, Rostock, Germany. (Note that to run with Methanol or LNG the engines will require upgrading to MaK 12 M46 dual-fuel specification – this has been allowed for in the design). The main engines are each coupled to a Caterpillar supplied gearbox (Renk RSHL-1120). 2 x Caterpillar Propulsion (Berg) Feathering Controllable-Pitch Propellers MPP 1410f (PB58547). 3 x Wärtsilä 8L20 auxiliary engines, supplied by Wärtsila Finland Oy. 2 x Wärtsila WTT24 CP 2,400kW Bow Thrusters, supplied by Wärtsilä Netherlands. 1 x S12A2-M(P)TA Emergency Generator, supplied by Mitsubishi Turbocharger and Engine Europe B.V 2 x WE Tech 2,600kW permanent-magnet shaft generators, with variable frequency drive (WE Drive) connected to a DC-link switchboard (WE Tech solution 4) for bow thrusters and Power Take Out (PTO) (WE Tech solution 1). Novenco HVAC systems including chillers AHU, VAV cabin units, fans, vehicle deck ventilation, and all control systems. 2 x “high lift” flap rudders, supplied by MM Ofshore, Germany Rolls Royce Steering Gear Mitsubishi fin stabilisers TTS access gear NB: All non-LNG fuelled E-Flexer class vessels are gas ready and prepared for scrubber and catalytic converter installation should it be required. |
| Power (Max) | 25,200 kW |
| Design Speed | 22 kts |
Passenger Capacity | 927
|
| Crew | 73 * (* figure quoted by Stena for standard layout) |
| Passenger Cabins | 175 (including six deluxe and two cabins specifically adapted for people with physical disabilities) |
Vehicle capacity | 3,100 lane metres of freight (on 3 decks – 1, 3, 5) plus 120 cars on an additional deck (deck 7) 5.2 m free height on deck 3 and 5 Twin-level drive-through loading configuration with bow and stern doors and tilting internal ramps between decks. |
|
Flag state (port) |  Cyprus (Limassol) |
Key Supplier Information
| Shipyard | China Merchants Jinling Shipyard (Weihai) Co., Ltd., China (Previously known as AVIC Weihai Shipyard Co., Ltd) |
| Design and Overall Concept | Stena RoRo, Sweden |
| Consulting Naval Architect | Deltamarin, Finland |
| Hull Design | Deltamarin, Finland |
| Tank Testing | MARIN, Netherlands |
| Technical Consultant | Stena Teknik, Sweden |
| Project Management | Stena RoRo, Sweden / China |
| Engineering, Procurement, & Construction Management | Deltamarin, Finland / China |
| Interior Architecture | Figura Arkitekter, Gothenburg, Sweden |
| Interior Design | Figura Arkitekter, Gothenburg, Sweden |
| Certification Society | DNV-GL, Norway |
| Outfitting | R&M (Reinhold & Mahla), Hamburg, Germany / Weihai, China |
| Additional Outfitting | Norgi Marine, Poland / Madden Marine, Belfast |
| Main Engines | Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KG (MaK), Germany |
| Gearbox and Controllable Pitch Propellers | Caterpillar Marine / Caterpillar Propulsion Production, Sweden (Packaged gearbox’s manufactured by Renk, Germany) |
| Variable-Frequency Shaft Generators and Electrical Switchboard | We Tech, Finland |
| Auxiliary Engines | Wärtsilä, Finland (Manufactured in China) |
| Bow Thrusters | Wärtsilä Netherlands B.V., Netherlands |
| Emergency Generator | Mitsubishi Turbocharger and Engine Europe B.V., Netherlands |
| Stabilisers | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Marine Machinery & Equipment Co. , Ltd. |
| Rudders | MM-Offshore GmbH, Oldenburg, Germany |
| Steering Gear | Rolls-Royce Commercial Marine, Norway |
| Access Equipment (including all ramps) | TTS Marine AB, Sweden / Finland |
| Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning | Novenco, Denmark / China (package includes chillers AHU, VAV cabin units, fans and all control systems) |
| Glazing | Saint-Gobain S.A., France |
| Galley Equipment | Aluminox S.A., Greece |
| Furniture | Various (including R&M; Capdell, Spain; vitra, Switzerland; and bespoke joinery by the outfitting teams) |
| Lifts | Kone, Finland |
| Lifeboats | Jiangsu Jiaoyan Marine Equipment Co., Ltd, China |
| Fast Rescue Boat | Jiangsu Jiaoyan Marine Equipment Co., Ltd, China |
| Davits | Jiangsu Jiaoyan Marine Equipment Co., Ltd, China |
| Marine Evacuation System | Survitec / RFD Beaufort, United Kingdom |
| Fire fighting Equipment | Minimax / Marioff |
| Simulator Training | Liverpool John Moores University Maritime Centre, England |
Note that while the suppliers used on STENA EDDA and STENA ESTRID remain largely consistent throughout the E-Flexer series, Brittany Ferries and DFDS have opted to use their own choice of suppliers on some aspects of their vessels. For instance, DFDS’s CÔTE D’ OPALE will have an HVAC system supplied by Heinen and Hopman rather than Novenco.
Both companies also intend to appoint their own interior designers in addition to Figura. Figura’s services are included as part of each company’s build and charter contracts with Stena RoRo, however.
Stena Edda Gallery
