Stena Estrid is the first of five next generation Stena Line RoPax vessels that are currently being constructed. The vessel will now embark on a six-week journey to its new home on the Irish Sea, where it will begin service on the Dublin to Holyhead route in January 2020.
A further two of the new ferries are also destined for the Irish Sea with Stena Edda expected to commence operations from Belfast to Liverpool next spring, and a third vessel Stena Embla to be introduced on the same route in early 2021.
Following a signing ceremony, Stena Line’s Technical Operations Director Bjarne Koitrand and Stena Estrid’s Senior Master Matthew Lynch and crew officially took ownership of the vessel.
“Today has been six years in the planning,” said Bjarne Koitrand, “and we are delighted to finally take ownership of the first of our five new ships. With the new crew now in place, they can start the long journey to the Irish Sea, where Stena Estrid will make her new home serving customers between Dublin and Holyhead.”
At 215 metres in length, Stena Estrid will provide freight capacity of 3,100 lane meters, meaning a 50 per cent increase in freight tonnage, and the space to carry 120 cars and 1,000 passengers and crew.
By Jake Frith
