Stena's next newbuild joins the fleet
The “Stena Edda” will enter service on the Belfast-Liverpool route in spring 2020. It is the second of three new e-flexer vessels bound for the Irish Sea during 2020 and 2021, a multi-million pound investment by Stena Line in the region. The ‘float out’ ceremony started at 13.18 h local Weihai time and at 18.00 h the “Stena Edda” left the dock. The timings were chosen especially because 18 is considered a lucky number in China.
At 215 m, all three vessels will have a freight capacity of 3,100 lane metres and space to carry 120 cars and 1,000 passengers and Crew. They will increase capacity on the Belfast – Liverpool route by almost 20%. Stena Line offers a wide choice of Irish Sea routes between Britain and Ireland as well as a direct service from Rosslare to Cherbourg with three return crossings a week.
Stena Line has ordered a further two e-flexer ropax vessels to be deployed in Stena Line’s network in 2022. These ships will be 240 m long with a total freight capacity of 3,600 lane metres and a passenger capacity of 1,200. Stena Lines sister company Stena RoRo manages all current e-flexer building projects at the Avic Weihai shipyard (China). (kd)