Stena Irish Sea Fleet Update October 2020

By: Steven Tarbox
Date:
Last updated:
STENA SUPERFAST VIII seen in Belfast Dry Dock, Harland & Wolff, during October 2020. © Stena Line.
STENA SUPERFAST VIII seen in Belfast Dry Dock, Harland & Wolff, during October 2020. © Stena Line.

As ‘Stena Adventurer’ arrives in Belfast, we take a quick look at some fleet movements involving the Stena group of companies during October.

Stena Line

Stena Adventurer arrives in Belfast

Having sailed overnight from Holyhead, STENA ADVENTURER arrived in Belfast Dry Dock, Harland & Wolff, this morning.

STENA ADVENTURER swings on to Dublin Port's berth 51, 23 October 2020. © Robbie Cox.
STENA ADVENTURER swings on to Dublin Port’s berth 51, 23 October 2020. © Robbie Cox.

The ship is currently timetabled to return to service with the 02:30 ex Holyhead on November 2. Her visit is believed to be for work on her stabilisers, which was started in Dunkerque earlier in the year, to be completed.

STENA ADVENTURER is the final Stena Line ship expected to visit Harland & Wolff this year.

Stena Horizon

The normal Rosslare – Cherbourg vessel, STENA HORIZON, has been in service in place of STENA ESTRID since the beginning of October. With STENA HORIZON in place between Dublin and Holyhead, STENA ESTRID has been able to cover STENA SUPERFAST VIII and STENA SUPERFAST VII on the Belfast – Cairnryan route.

Stena Horizon approaching the Poolbeg lighthouse, inbound to Dublin earlier in October 2020.  © Robbie Cox.
STENA HORIZON approaching the Poolbeg lighthouse, inbound to Dublin earlier in October 2020. © Robbie Cox.

Covid-19 restrictions mean that passenger demand on the Holyhead – Dublin route remains lower than normal, though freight demand is understood to remain strong.

Stena Vinga

Having arrived on loan from Stena Line Scandinavia, STENA VINGA settled into a freight-only relief role on the Rosslare – Cherbourg route.

At present she is timetabled to continue in this role until STENA HORIZON takes up the service on November 3. Stena Line’s freight timetable currently shows her returning to her usual Gotenburg – Frederikshavn service on November 8.

Stena Superfast VIII / Stena Superfast VII

The two Belfast-based sister ships dry-docked in turn at Harland & Wolff as expected, though returned to service later than originally reported. As above, STENA ESTRID provided cover during their absence.

STENA SUPERFAST VIII seen on the berth at Belfast VT4 following her 2020 dry docking. © David Faerder.
STENA SUPERFAST VIII seen on the berth at Belfast VT4 following her 2020 dry docking. © David Faerder.

Stena Line has kindly supplied some pictures (below) of STENA SUPERFAST VIII in dry-dock.

STENA SUPERFAST VIII seen in Belfast Dry Dock, Harland & Wolff, during October 2020. © Stena Line.
STENA SUPERFAST VIII seen in Belfast Dry Dock, Harland & Wolff, during October 2020. © Stena Line.

TV presenter Dom Littlewood also visited the ship while in dry dock to film an episode of his upcoming series ‘Dom Dig’s In’.

An impressive view of STENA SUPERFAST VIII's propellers taken while in Belfast Dry Dock, Harland & Wolff, during October 2020. © Stena Line.
An impressive view of STENA SUPERFAST VIII‘s propellers taken while in Belfast Dry Dock, Harland & Wolff, during October 2020. © Stena Line.

Stena Estrid

With STENA ESTRID no longer required as relief cover at Belfast, she sailed for Holyhead after covering the (45 mins late) 19:30 sailing from Cairnryan on Thursday (Nov 22).

Sister-ships STENA ESTRID and STENA EDDA meet in Belfast. Copyright © Steven Tarbox.
Sister-ships STENA ESTRID and STENA EDDA meet in Belfast. Copyright © Steven Tarbox.

While largely successful, STENA ESTRID‘s spell on the North Channel has been dogged by delayed sailings. Many of these delays are believed to have been caused by fit problems with the berth at Belfast VT4. STENA SUPERFAST X also had similar issues in the past.

Stena Mersey

Stena Line has confirmed that STENA MERSEY will stay in service on the Belfast – Liverpool route until she is released by her brand-new replacement STENA EMBLA.

The chartered freighter SEATRUCK PANORAMA and STENA MERSEY seen together at 12 Quays, Birkenhead. © David Faerder.
The chartered freighter SEATRUCK PANORAMA and STENA MERSEY seen together at 12 Quays, Birkenhead. © David Faerder.

‘Mersey’ currently sails on the route with STENA EDDA and the chartered Ro-Ro SEATRUCK PANORAMA. Once released from the Birkenhead – Belfast route, ‘Mersey’ will sail to SEDEF Shipbuilding for lengthening and rebuilding before joining STENA LAGAN on the Nyanshamn – Ventspils route.

STENA LAGAN undergoing rebuilding at SEDEF Shipbuilding, Tuzla, Turkey. Copyright © Stena RoRo.
STENA LAGAN undergoing rebuilding at SEDEF Shipbuilding, Tuzla, Turkey. In this view, the first section of her 36m long extension has been inserted. Copyright © Stena RoRo.

Stena Line has confirmed that both ships will be renamed for their new service.

Stena Nordica to replace Stena Baltica

Having eventually returned to Poland from the Irish Sea (via brief service on Ventspils – Nynashamn), STENA NORDICA is dry docking at Remontowa Gdansk. Once completed, she will release STENA BALTICA from the Karlskrona – Gdynia route. This will allow ‘Baltica’ to will return to Brittany Ferries.

Brittany Ferries COTENTIN. She later became STENA BALTICA after a charter was agreed with Stena Line. Copyright © Gary Davies
Brittany Ferries COTENTIN. She later became STENA BALTICA after a charter was agreed with Stena Line. Copyright © Gary Davies / Maritime Photographic.

Brittany Ferries previously had plans to potentially rebuild the ship, previously named COTENTIN. Like many shipping industry projects, these plans are understood to be on ice for the foreseeable future due to financial pressures brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stena RoRo

Stena Foreteller

The Ro-Ro freighter STENA FORETELLER, which was on charter to Irish Ferries earlier this year, has been chartered to NMT for Europe – Africa service for an unspecified time. She is currently off Conarky (Guinea).

The chartered Ro-Ro STENA FORETELLER seen at Berth 51 in Dublin Port ahead of her introduction as Irish Ferries refit relief vessel. Copyright © Robbie Cox.
The chartered Ro-Ro STENA FORETELLER seen at Berth 51 in Dublin Port ahead of her introduction as Irish Ferries refit relief vessel. Copyright © Robbie Cox.

STENA FORETELLER had been laid up at Uddevalla, along with sister-ship STENA FORECASTER as well as STENA SAGA, and SASSNITZ, following completion of her Irish Ferries charter. STENA SAGA and SASSNITZ remain laid up at the port and are both believed to be for sale.

Stena Forecaster

The former Belfast – Liverpool freight ship is due to replace MISIDA on P&O Ferries Liverpool – Dublin service. She is expected to take up service on 2 November.

STENA FORECASTER. Copyright© Scott Mackey.
STENA FORECASTER. Copyright© Scott Mackey.

At present STENA FORECASTER is in dry dock at A&P Tyne (Hebburn). MISIDA has been chartered to SeaCargo from next month.

Stena Embla

The latest E-Flexer to be completed, and the fourth in the series, is back at her builders yard in Weihai for finishing touches to be applied.

STENA EMBLA seen alongside at CMI Jinling Weihai. Stena Line
STENA EMBLA seen alongside at CMI Jinling Weihai. Stena Line

Once delivered, she will transfer to Stena Line before entering service on the Irish Sea early in the new year.


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