Stena Flavia | Stena Line

Stena Flavia Overview

STENA FLAVIA was launched as WATLING STREET as the 18th in the series of 24 Visentini RoPax vessels designed by NAOS design and launched between 1997 and 2011.  She is the 7th of the more efficient “flex-bow” generation.  She currently operates the route between Travemünde in Germany and Ventspils in Latvia, but was designated as the refit cover ship for the Irish Sea region in early 2016.  Before operating for Stena Line, she operated for ISCOMAR, T-Link Lines, and Scandlines – the latter was taken over by Stena in 2012 resulting in the then WATLING STREET becoming STENA FLAVIA.  Like other Visentini RoPax vessels, STENA FLAVIA was designed by NAOS Ship and Boat design and has large vehicle decks and a functional interior designed by Studio Ancora.  All public facilities are on deck 5 with passenger cabins on deck 6.  Her passenger module is smaller than that of Stena Lagan, Stena Mersey and Stena Horizon, though larger than that of Epsilon. Vehicles are housed on decks 1-5, with deck 2 and 5 only for passenger cars and small vans.  Deck 7 houses the bridge and crew areas.  In common with all other Visentini RoPax ferries to date, she loads all vehicles and passengers via a stern ramp.

STENA FLAVIA was purchased by Stena from the receivers/banks of previous owners EPIC shipping in 2012 before she was renamed from Watling Street.  The direct sister ships of STENA FLAVIA are Stena RoRo owned Etretat (currently on charter to Brittany Ferries, and previously Ld Lines’ Norman Voyager), Scottish Viking (also operated by Stena, but still owned by a Visentini family company), and Norman Atlantic (also owned by the Visentini group of companies).  Other Visentini class vessels operating on Irish Sea services include Stena Line’s Stena Lagan, Stena Mersey, Stena Horizon, and Irish Ferries’ Epsilon.

Title image: Stena Flavia alongside at Rosslare following her arrival from the Baltic.  Copyright © Brian Boyce.