Visentini (Cantiere Navale Visentini Srl)
In strange waters #2: Stena Line Irish Sea dry docking’s/refits 2017.
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. Â 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. (Title image: Stena Europe in Rosslare displaying the ... Read more
PR: Stena Horizon refitted at Harland and Wolff.
The Stena Horizon is currently taking a break from her Rosslare-Cherbourg duties to undergo a refit programme at Belfast’s Harland and Wolff shipyard which will last the vessel for 36 months. The vessel will be in dry dock for a total of fourteen days and during that time a number of key maintenance and upgrade works will be carried out including two propulsion shafts being removed and machine liners fitted with new seals; both bow thrusters overhauled and both rudders removed and fitted with new seals as well as both stabilisers being overhauled. While the Stena Horizon is in dry dock the opportunity will also be taken to repaint the entire hull including a full antifouling system to ensure future fuel efficiency; stern door line bore all hinges and install new pins; lifeboat hooks replaced to new standard; a 10 yearly overhaul of CO2 system as well as a 10 ... Read more
Weekly roundup 19/12/15
A quick roundup of some this weeks ferry industry news stories, both local and further afield. Local ferry news. Bye bye Express. The former P&O Larne – Troon vessel Express finally left Belfast on Wednesday following her layover following her final service to Troon in October, and subsequent sale by owners Buquebus to Swedish interests following P&O’s decision not to renew her charter. She is currently laid over in Helsingborg and is expected to enter service for GotlandsbÃ¥ten between Gotland and the Swedish Mainland in March 2016. Notably an article promoting a £50 discount for fans travelling to France for Euro 2016 via P&O’s Larne and Dover services makes no mention of a Troon service for next year (but does specifically mention Cairnryan), giving further rise to speculation the service may not return next season. UK ferry news DFDS to operate Newhaven route for a further 2 years. SMPAT, the French local government owned organisation, ... Read more
Former Belfast-Liverpool ferry prepares for a life in New Zealand
Former Irish Sea ro-pax Stena Feronia (ex Dublin Seaways, Dublin Viking, Mersey Viking) has been renamed STRAIT FERONIAÂ and adopted the New Zealand flag. She is currently in dry dock at Landskrona being prepared for a new life in the Southern Hemisphere operating for New Zealand company Strait Shipping under their Blue Bridge brand. STRAIT FERONIA was of course built for the Belfast – Liverpool service as one of the two lead vessels of the Visentini ro-pax series, and was sold by owners Stena Line last in January to Strait Shipping. She is expected to enter service in July this year on the Cook Strait service, replacing current ship Santa Regina. In a twist of fate, the former Stena Feronia will be competing directly with former Irish Sea fleet mate Stena Alegra, which operated the Dublin to Liverpool service as Dawn Merchant for Merchant Ferries and Norse Merchant Ferries. She has been ... Read more
Goodbye Celtic Link Ferries
With effect of 31st March, the Irish Ferry company Celtic Link ferries ceased to exist as a separate entity and became part of Stena Line. Â Celtic Link previously ran the year round Rosslare – Cherbourg service, which they took over from P&O in 2005 after that company abandoned the route the previous year. Â The current vessel, the chartered Visentini built ropax Celtic Horizon, is to be renamed Stena Horizon, and the process of repainting her funnel in the Stena house colours began on Monday in Rosslare. Â Stena Horizon is a sister ship of Stena Lagan and Stena Mersey, however she has not yet been refurbished to the high standard of the Birkenhead vessels. Â Stena subsidiary NMM (Northern Marine Management) are to take over the management of Stena Horizon in line with practice for the rest of the fleet operating to Ireland. Celtic Link ferries established the route as an important ... Read more