Stena Vinga to Replace Stena Nordica as Irish Sea Relief Vessel

By: Steven Tarbox
Date:
Last updated:
STENA VINGA. Stena Line.
STENA VINGA. Stena Line.

Stena Line’s STENA VINGA is to arrive on the Irish Sea within the next week it has been confirmed. According to the Stena Line Freight timetable, the Dutch-built ship will takeover from STENA HORIZON on the Rosslare – Cherbourg route from Monday September 28. STENA VINGA will operate in freight-only mode, with COVID-19 restrictions meaning that passenger demand on the route remains low.

After arrival she will release STENA HORIZON to take over from STENA NORDICA on the Holyhead-Dublin route. At present this is scheduled to be from the 20:30 sailing ex Holyhead on September 30 until the 14:50 ex Dublin on October 26. At present, STENA NORDICA is covering for STENA ESTRID which in-turn is covering at Belfast.

STENA VINGA. Stena Line.
STENA VINGA. Stena Line.

Originally named HAMMERODDE, STENA VINGA was built to a modified version of the same design as BEN-MY-CHREE and COMMODORE CLIPPER. However, she was built at IHC Merwede instead of Van Der Giessen-de noord. During 2010 she was fitted with an additional trailer deck in Helsinki. She normally sails between Gothenburg (Sweden) and Frederikshavn (Denmark).

STENA HORIZON leaves Belfast on the morning of New Years Day 2019 while providing dry dock cover for STENA LAGAN. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
STENA HORIZON leaves Belfast on the morning of New Years Day 2019 while providing dry dock cover for STENA LAGAN. Copyright © Scott Mackey.

Refit for Nordica

The arrival of STENA VINGA, which has never been to Ireland or France before, will allow STENA NORDICA to dry dock in Poland. ‘Nordica’ has been on loan to Stena Line UK & Ireland as a relief vessel since the start of 2019.

Stena Nordica seen arriving at Stena's Loch Ryan Port during her period as relief ship on the Belfast - Cairnryan route during February and March 2019. Copyright © Scott Mackey.
STENA NORDICA seen arriving at Stena’s Loch Ryan Port during her period as relief ship on the Belfast – Cairnryan route during February and March 2019. Copyright © Scott Mackey.

During her dry docking at Remontowa Gdansk, it is expected the ship will also undergo some refurbishment. Once her dry docking is complete, STENA NORDICA is expected to return to the Karlskrona – Gdynia route in place of STENA BALTICA from October 30. The latter ship is widely expected to return to owners Brittany Ferries in November.

STENA BALTICA, ex COTENTIN. Stena Line.
STENA BALTICA, ex COTENTIN. Stena Line.

Estrid to remain in Belfast

As previously published, STENA ESTRID is expected to remain in Belfast until at least October 13. The normally Holyhead-based ship is covering the dry docking of both STENA SUPERFAST VIII and sister STENA SUPERFAST VII at Harland & Wolff.

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.

Once STENA ESTRID has finished covering at Belfast, she is expected to return to her normal Holyhead – Dublin route in place of usual running-mate STENA ADVENTURER. This will allow ‘Adventurer’ to dry dock in Belfast for attention to ongoing issues. It is understood specially fabricated parts will be fitted during this dry docking to resolve these issues.


Polite notice: While we welcome our articles being shared, we request that links to this website are provided rather than other approaches. Thank you (NI Ferry Site team).