Stena Line Confirms Deployment of Lengthened E-Flexer Ferries

Two Baltic Sea Routes to Get Big Capacity Upgrade in 2022

Stena Line has confirmed previous reports that it’s two as-yet unnamed 240m-long Stena E-Flexer (Mk II) ferries will be deployed to the Nynäshamn – Ventspils route. The move will release the former Belfast – Birkenhead ships STENA SCANDICA and STENA BALTICA for the Karlskrona – Gdynia route. That route is currently served by STENA SPIRIT, STENA VISION, and STENA NORDICA.

The deployment of the two new Mk II E-Flexers to the Baltic Sea route is the latest step in Stena’s investment in the region. It is also the second major tonnage announcement for the Ventspils service in a year. STENA BALTICA (ex STENA MERSEY) has yet to serve the route as she is still undergoing lengthening and rebuilding in Turkey, while STENA SCANDICA was only introduced at the end of July Once in service, the new E-Flexers will increase freight capacity by a further 25% and passenger capacity by 33%. This is on top of the previously announced 30% increase in freight capacity.

The exact timing of the arrival into service of the E-Flexer MkII’s has been said to be Summer and Late Autumn 2022.

Niclas Mårtensson, CEO Stena Line Group said:

“We continue growing together with our customers by strengthen our position and fleet across the Baltic Sea. Demand for capacity in the region keeps increasing as freight customers continue to expand and travel passengers choose ferry travel as their preferred safe form of transport in the wake of the pandemic. These large, modern, and fuel-efficient next generation ferries are the flag ships in the modernisation of our fleet as well as our development of sustainable shipping”.
https://news.cision.com/stena-line/r/two-new-e-flexer-ferries-to-join-stena-line-s-baltic-sea-fleet-next-year,c3420862

Fredrik Lindstål, Chair of the Board of Ports of Stockholm said:

“We warmly welcome Stena Scandica to Stockholm Norvik Port. We are very happy about our long-term multi-year collaboration and that Stena Line has chosen to expand in a major way and invest in the Baltic Sea and our new port,”
https://www.portsofstockholm.com/about-us/news/2021/stena-line-expands-with-new-and-larger-vessels-calling-at-stockholm-norvik-port/

Freight Capacity Increase for Karlskorna – Gdynia

Stena has not yet said if any vessels on the Karlskrona – Gdynia route will be replaced. It seems likely, however, that at least one of STENA SPIRIT or STENA VISION will leave the route. A post to Stena’s Polish Facebook page indicates that three to four ships will be in use.

The Met Bar & Grill onboard STENA SCANDICA is instantly recognisable from her later years as STENA LAGAN. Image: Stena Line

There have also been suggestions that STENA NORDICA may leave for elsewhere in the Stena Line network next year. Fishguard – Rosslare would seem a strong candidate for her if this is the case. Whatever they replace, the arrival of STENA SCANDICA and STENA BALTICA will significantly increase freight capacity on the Karlskrona – Gdynia route.

The two vessels that are now under construction are both 30% larger and more energy efficient than previous vessels. Mild Design / Stena Line. — The two E-Flexer vessels that are now under construction are both 30% larger and more energy efficient than previous vessels. Mild Design / Stena Line.

The Mk II E-Flexers are built to a stretched version of the design used for STENA ESTRID, STENA EDDA, and STENA EMBLA. Those three vessels were all deployed to Irish Sea routes as part of a major investment programme by Stena Line in the region. The larger E-Flexer MkII ferries have capacity for 3,600 lane metres of freight and 1,200 passengers. They are expected to be in service ahead of the introduction of STENA SCANDICA and STENA BALTICA on the Gdynia route in summer and late-autumn 2022.

Stena E-Flexer Mk I vs Mk II Comparison

Class	Stena E-Flexer Mk I (standard – 215m)	Stena E-Flexer Mk II (lengthened – 240m)
Design	Stena AB / Deltamarin	Stena AB / Deltamarin
Construction Yard	CMJL Weihai, Shandong Province, China	CMJL Weihai, Shandong Province, China
Vessel Operators	Stena Line (3), Brittany Ferries (3), DFDS (1)	Stena Line (2)
Delivery	Late 2019 – 2023	2022
Length	214.5m	239.7m
Breadth	27.8m	27.8m
Draught	6.4m	6.4m
Gross Tonnage	Approx 40,500	Approx 45,000
Total number of decks	10	10
Number of passenger decks	3	3
Approx. Passenger Capacity (including crew)	1,000	1,200
Freight Capacity	3100 lane metres*	3600 lane metres
Capacity of dedicated passenger vehicle and small van deck (not included on the Brittany Ferries examples)	120	200

(*SALAMANCA and SANTOÑA will be LNG powered with Wartsila main engines. They will also have a smaller vehicle deck capacity of 2,758 lm in order to create room for their LNG fuel tanks and associated equipment. GALICIA is diesel powered and so retains the full 3,100 lm vehicle deck capacity, albeit without the dedicated car deck in the Stena Line examples. This is given over in favour of additional passenger cabins on all three Brittany Ferries examples.). Additional (shorter) versions of the E-Flexer design have also been created for Marine Atlantic and Brittany Ferries.

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