STENA SUPERFAST VII (ex SUPERFAST VII) imo: 9198941
STENA SUPERFAST VII is one of two sister-ships which currently operate Stena Line’s Belfast to Cairnryan (Loch Ryan Port) service. She was completed in 2001 as SUPERFAST VII for Attica Holdings’ Superfast Ferries subsidiary as the lead vessel of the four ship Superfast VII series completed by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) in Kiel, Germany.
As-built her sister-ships are the current STENA SUPERFAST VIII, ATLANTIC VISION, and STENA SUPERFAST X. Along with SUPERFAST VIII, she was built specifically to operate Superfast Ferries’ new Baltic Sea service between Hanko (Finland) and Rostock (Germany), a service which was sold along with its vessels SUPERFAST VII-IX to Estonia’s Tallink in 2006 – just 5 years after it was established.
Since 2011 STENA SUPERFAST VII has operated the Belfast – Cairnryan (Loch Ryan Port) route in tandem with her sister-ship STENA SUPERFAST VIII after both ships were re-built for the route in Poland at a reported cost of €14m. Along with her sister and operating partner, STENA SUPERFAST VII is the largest vessel to ever operate a ferry service between Northern Ireland and Scotland.
You can read more about STENA SUPERFAST VII on her dedicated page here.
PR: NI Ferry Enthusiasts visit Stena Superfast VII at Harland & Wolff.
Stena Line were delighted to welcome 5 members of the NI Ferry Enthusiasts to Dry Dock today Monday 20th March at Harland and Wolff. Diane Poole OBE Head of PR and Communications said “Stena Line welcomed this group to have a behind the scenes look at Superfast VII in Dry Dock and were welcomed onboard by Senior Master Alistair McCarlie who had great pleasure in showing them some of the work that goes on during Dry Dock. The group had freedom to ask questions , take pictures and share them on their relevant channels.” “It was great to be able to visit Harland and Wolff to get a better sense of what goes on when a vessel such as Stena Superfast VII is dry docked, and fantastic to be able to ask questions and get answers from someone as knowledgeable as Senior Master A McCarlie. I would like to say ... Read more
Stena kicks-off Irish Sea refit programme
Stena Hibernia first of 9 Stena Line vessels to visit Harland and Wolff. Stena Line kicked off their 2017 Irish Sea refit programme today (Wednesday), with Stena Hibernia making the short journey across the River Lagan to Harland and Wolff’s ‘Belfast Dry Dock’. Stena Europe will be next to go for refit on Jan 4th, covered by Stena Nordica which is returning to the Irish Sea as the refit cover vessel this year. This follows spells on the English Channel and Mediterranean with DFDS and GNV respectively, following her displacement on the Dublin to Holyhead route by Stena Superfast X. Stena Nordica is of course a part-sister ship to P&O’s European Causeway and European Highlander, having been built for P&O as European Ambassador. £7m contract It is expected that the Stena Line Irish Sea refit programme for 2017 will run until early next May. As reported previously, Harland and Wolff ... Read more
The ‘other’ Stena Superfast: Stena Superfast X, coming soon to Belfast (for a while).
Stena Superfast X to operate to Cairnryan next month. Next month will see the maiden arrival in Belfast of the latest permanent addition to the Stena Line Irish Sea fleet, Stena Superfast X. Stena Superfast X was of course built as a sister ship to our own Stena Superfast VII and VIII, although she has had a very different career. Normally Stena Superfast X would operate between Dublin and Holyhead, however she will operate from Belfast for around 2 weeks whilst covering the dry-docking periods of Stena Superfast VII and VIII at Harland and Wolff. The Belfast yard has of course secured a £4m contact to refit the bulk of Stena Line’s Irish Sea fleet this year. Stena Superfast X will offer a different passenger experience to the regular vessels however, as she has been laid out differently internally, reflecting the different nature of her regular crossing. Of particular note is the retention ... Read more
PR: Harland and Wolff Secures £4m Stena Line Contract
Stena Line has continued its tradition of supporting the local maritime industry by placing a £4.4m contract with Harland and Wolff for the refit of its Irish Sea ferry fleet. Over the next two months, seven Stena Line vessels will visit the shipyard on a carefully sequenced timetable to facilitate a range of specialist works including annual inspections, passenger facility upgrade work as well as ongoing technical enhancements. Stena Line recently celebrated 20 years of its operations in Belfast. In 2015, Stena Line transported 1.4 million passengers, 318 000 cars and almost 500 000 freight units on its Belfast services to Cairnryan, Liverpool and Heysham, employing 900 staff. Paul Grant, Stena Line’s Route Manager said: ”Our refits are very important to ensure the smooth and safe running of our expanding fleet of ships. The decision to place the majority of our refit contract work with Harland and Wolff allows us ... Read more