In strange waters #2: Stena Line Irish Sea dry docking’s/refits 2017.

By: Steven Tarbox
Date:
Last updated:
Stena Europe in Rosslare showing off her new livery. Stena Line.
STENA EUROPE is seen in Rosslare showing off her new livery following her 2017 refit at Harland and Wolff, Belfast. Stena Line.

This page will be continually updated throughout the refit period which is expected to run until May 2017. Last years “in strange waters” can be found here.

Please note that due to the nature of their content, both pages are very heavy in photographic material and may take a while to load on slower connections.  The second part of this year’s feature can be found here.

This year Stena Line will complete all Irish Sea dry docking’s at Belfast’s Harland and Wolff shipyard, that’s a total of 9 ships from the fleet of 11.  At the end of 2016 Stena announced that the entire fleet would be receiving the latest livery and strap-line “Connecting Europe for a Sustainable Future” during their scheduled dry docking’s, in a style similar to that applied to Stena Britannica recently.  This replaces the previous “Making Good Time” strap-line.

Stena Britannica emerged from the Damen shipyard in Rotterdam as the first vessel with Stena’s revised livery. ​​This is the new standard Stena Line livery and it is to be implemented on their vessels in connection with planned docking’s. Stena Line

(Title image:  Stena Europe in Rosslare displaying the new Stena Line livery following her 2017 refit at Harland and Wolff, Belfast.  Stena Line)

#1 Stena Hibernia

Stena’s 2017 Irish Sea refits got off to a start in the last days of 2016, with Stena Hibernia (ex Hibernia Seaways,  Maersk Importer) making the short hop to Harland and Wolff’s Belfast Dry Dock for few days TLC  out of the water.

Stena Hibernia dry docked at Harland and Wollf at the end of 2016. Copyright Scott Mackey.
Stena Hibernia dry docked at Harland and Wollf at the end of 2016. Copyright © Scott Mackey (Flickr)
Stena Hibernia dry docked at Harland and Wollf at the end of 2016. Copyright Scott Mackey.
Stena Hibernia dry docked at Harland and Wollf at the end of 2016. Copyright © Scott Mackey (Flickr)
Stena Hibernia dry docked at Harland and Wollf at the end of 2016. Copyright Scott Mackey.
Stern view of Stena Hibernia when dry docked at Harland and Wollf at the end of 2016. Copyright © Scott Mackey (Flickr)
Stena Hibernia dry docked at Harland and Woll at the end of 2016. Copyright Scott Mackey.
Stena Hibernia dry docked at Harland and Wollf at the end of 2016. Copyright © Scott Mackey (Flickr)
Stena Hibernia dry docked at Harland and Woll at the end of 2016. Copyright Scott Mackey.
Stena Hibernia dry docked at Harland and Wollf at the end of 2016. Copyright © Scott Mackey (Flickr).

Stena Nordica returns to the Irish Sea

Whilst last year saw Stena Flavia (ex Pilar del Mar, Watling Street) arrive from the Baltic to provide refit cover on the Irish Sea, this year saw the return of former Irish Sea favourite Stena Nordica (ex Malo Seaways, Stena Nordica, European Ambassador).  Following her arrival on the Irish Sea (and a brief visit to Dublin) over the Christmas period, Stena Nordica made her way to Rosslare to relieve Stena Europe (ex Lion Europe, Stena Saga, Kronprinsessan Victoria).  By this stage Stena Hibernia had already left Harland and Wolff.   During her voyage from the Baltic, Stena Nordica also appears to have regained her red Stena funnel colours – until then she had been white all-over after the painting out of the GNV livery she had previously worn whilst on charter to that operator.

Stena Nordica in Dublin on 27/12/16. She is the Stena Line Irish Sea refit relief vessel this year. Copyright © Gordon Hislip.
A hastily rebranded STENA NORDICA in Dublin on 27/12/16 following the conclusion of her GNV charter in the Mediterranean. She was the Stena Line Irish Sea refit relief vessel for 2017. Copyright © Gordon Hislip.

#2 Stena Europe

Stena Europe then sailed overnight to Belfast, arriving at around 10am on the 4/1/17 for dry docking at Harland and Wolff.

STENA EUROPE arrives in Belfast for her 2017 refit. Copyright © Steven Tarbox
STENA EUROPE arrives in Belfast for her 2017 refit. Copyright © Steven Tarbox

Update 14/1/17:  

Stena Europe is due to leave Harland and Wolff tomorrow as the first Irish Sea vessel in the revised Stena Line livery, complete with green waves.  She is scheduled to resume Rosslare to Fishguard service with the 21:15 ex Rosslare on Monday.

Stena Horizon is currently timetabled to take up the Belfast to Birkenhead service on Wednesday evening, following Stena Nordica taking up the 21:30 ex Rosslare to Cherbourg on Tuesday in Horizon’s place.  Horizon will release the regular Birkenhead ships Stena Lagan and Stena Mersey in turn for their own refits at Harland & Wolff.

The finishing touches being put to Stena Europe at Belfast's Harland and Wolff shipyard on 15/1/17. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
The finishing touches being put to Stena Europe at Belfast’s Harland and Wolff shipyard on 15/1/17. Copyright © Scott Mackey.

Update 16/1/17

Stena Horizon left Rosslare bound for Belfast this evening, with arrival expected at around 9am tomorrow morning. She is expected to take up service on Wednesday evening, replacing Stena Lagan which will make the short journey across the river to Belfast Dry Dock for refit.  In the meantime, Stena Horizon looks set to be berthed at the Ship Repair Quay from Tuesday morning to Wednesday evening.

NB: The above is taken from Marine Traffic and the Belfast Harbour website, and is of course subject to change!

Stena Europe arrived in Rosslare earlier today, and is scheduled to  return to service with the 09:00 sailing to Fishguard on Tuesday.   This will release Stena Nordica to operate the overnight sailing to Cherbourg in lieu of Stena Horizon which will be in Belfast.

Stena Europe in Rosslare showing off her new livery. Stena Line.
Stena Europe in Rosslare showing off her new livery. Stena Line.

Stena Horizon in Belfast

Stena Horizon is currently set to take up service on the Belfast – Liverpool (Birkenhead) service on the 18/1/17 overnight sailing to Birkenhead in place of Stena Lagan.

Stena Horizon and Borgholm Dolphin at Harland and Wolff's Ship Repair Quay, 18/1/17. Stena Horizon relieved Stena Lagan that evening so the latter could go for dry docking. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
Stena Horizon and Borgholm Dolphin at Harland and Wolff’s Ship Repair Quay, 18/1/17. Stena Horizon relieved Stena Lagan that evening so the latter could go for dry docking. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
Stena Horizon shortly after her departure from Birkenhead whilst covering for Stena Lagan. Copyright © Das Boot 160. Flickr.
Stena Horizon shortly after her departure from Birkenhead whilst covering for Stena Lagan in 2017. Copyright © Das Boot 160. Flickr.

#3 Stena Lagan

Stena Lagan arrived at Harland and Wolff for dry docking on 18/1/17, having been released by Stena Horizon on the Birkenhead route.

Shot of Stena Lagan's starboard side viewed from the bow. Taken during the vessels 2017 dry dock at Belfast's Harland and Wolff. Stena Line.
Shot of Stena Lagan’s starboard side viewed from the bow. Taken during the vessels 2017 dry dock at Belfast’s Harland and Wolff. Stena Line.
Stena Lagan's bow, taken from the starboard side. Taken during the vessels 2017 dry dock at Belfast's Harland and Wolff. Stena Line.
Stena Lagan’s bow, taken from the starboard side. We can see that the bow thrusters are receiving some attention in the centre of the picture. Taken during the vessels 2017 dry dock at Belfast’s Harland and Wolff. Stena Line.
One of Stena Lagan's lifeboats rests on firm ground during her 2017 dry docking in Belfast. Stena Line
One of Stena Lagan’s lifeboats rests on firm ground during her 2017 dry docking in Belfast. Stena Line.
This picture gives a sense of the scale of these ships – note how small the people appear. Stena Lagan in Belfast dry dock, January ’17. Stena Line.
Closer look at the stern of Stena Lagan in Belfast dry dock, January '17. Stena Line
Stena Lagan in Belfast dry dock, January ’17. Stena Line
Closer look at the stern of Stena Lagan in Belfast dry dock, January '17. Stena Line
Closer look at the stern of Stena Lagan in Belfast dry dock, January ’17. Stena Line
Stena Lagan's port-side sporting the green waves of the new Stena Line livery. Stena Line.
Stena Lagan’s port-side sporting the green waves of the new Stena Line livery. Stena Line.
Stern view of Stena Lagan in Belfast dry dock, January ’17. Stena Line
Stena Lagan in Belfast dry dock, January '17. Stena Line
Stena Lagan in Belfast dry dock, January ’17. Stena Line
Stena Lagan in Belfast dry dock January '17. Stena Line
Stena Lagan in Belfast dry dock, January ’17. Stena Line

Update 28/1/17

Scott Mackey took his camera along to Harland and Wolff earlier today to see how Stena Lagan is coming on.  Heres a selection of his pictures (more on www.flickr.com/scottmackey).

Stena Lagan dry docked at Belfast's Harland and Wolff 28/1/17. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
Stena Lagan dry docked at Belfast’s Harland and Wolff 28/1/17. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
Stena Lagan dry docked at Belfast's Harland and Wolff 28/1/17. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
Stena Lagan dry docked at Belfast’s Harland and Wolff 28/1/17. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
Stena Lagan dry docked at Belfast's Harland and Wolff 28/1/17. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
Stena Lagan dry docked at Belfast’s Harland and Wolff 28/1/17. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
Stena Lagan dry docked at Belfast's Harland and Wolff 28/1/17. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
Stena Lagan dry docked at Belfast’s Harland and Wolff 28/1/17. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
Stena Lagan dry docked at Belfast's Harland and Wolff 28/1/17. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
Stena Lagan dry docked at Belfast’s Harland and Wolff 28/1/17. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
Stena Lagan dry docked at Belfast's Harland and Wolff 28/1/17. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
Sporting the new strapline and green waves, Stena Lagan is pictured here dry docked at Belfast’s Harland and Wolff 28/1/17. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
Stena Lagan dry docked at Belfast's Harland and Wolff 28/1/17. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
Stena Lagan dry docked at Belfast’s Harland and Wolff 28/1/17. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
Stena Lagan dry docked at Belfast's Harland and Wolff 28/1/17. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
Stena Lagan dry docked at Belfast’s Harland and Wolff 28/1/17. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
Stena Lagan pictured during her Monday lay-over at Birkenhead on 13/03/17. © Steven Tarbox
Stena Lagan pictured during her Monday lay-over at Birkenhead on 13/03/17. © Steven Tarbox

#4 Stena Mersey

Stena Mersey in Harland & Wolff's Belfast Dry Dock, February 2016. Copyright © Scott Mackey 2017.
Stena Mersey in Harland & Wolff’s Belfast Dry Dock, February 2016. Copyright © Scott Mackey 2017.
Stena Mersey in Harland & Wolff's Belfast Dry Dock, February 2016. Copyright © Scott Mackey 2017.
Stena Mersey in Harland & Wolff’s Belfast Dry Dock, February 2016. Copyright © Scott Mackey 2017.
Stena Mersey in Harland & Wolff's Belfast Dry Dock, February 2016. Copyright © Scott Mackey 2017.
Stena Mersey in Harland & Wolff’s Belfast Dry Dock, February 2016. Copyright © Scott Mackey 2017.
Stena Mersey in Harland & Wolff's Belfast Dry Dock, February 2016. Copyright © Scott Mackey 2017.
Stena Mersey in Harland & Wolff’s Belfast Dry Dock, February 2016. Copyright © Scott Mackey 2017.
Stena Mersey in Harland & Wolff's Belfast Dry Dock, February 2016. Copyright © Scott Mackey 2017.
Stena Mersey in Harland & Wolff’s Belfast Dry Dock, February 2016. Copyright © Scott Mackey 2017.

Due to the number of photographs contained in this feature it is continued on another page here


The above article is Copyright © Steven Tarbox / NI Ferry Site and the named photographic contributors.  With special thanks to Diane Poole MBE @ Stena Line and Scott Mackey.


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