Stena Line

Last updated

Stena Line
Company type Private
Industry Transport
Founded1962
Founder Sten A. Olsson
Headquarters Gothenburg, Sweden
Key people
Niclas Martensson CEO)
Services
Revenue Green Arrow Up.svg 5.0 billion SEK (2015)
Number of employees
5,000 (2015)
Parent Stena AB  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Website www.stenaline.com
Stena Adventurer Stena Adventurer.jpg
Stena Adventurer
A miniature model of the Stena Line ferry on display at Madurodam miniature park, the Netherlands. Miniature of Stena Line.jpg
A miniature model of the Stena Line ferry on display at Madurodam miniature park, the Netherlands.

Stena Line is a Swedish shipping line company and one of the largest ferry operators in the world. It services Denmark, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Finland and Sweden. Stena Line is a major unit of Stena AB, itself a part of the Stena Sphere. It is a sister company to one of the world's leading tanker company Stena Bulk.

Contents

History

Formation

Stena Line was founded in 1962 by Sten A. Olsson in Gothenburg, Sweden, which still serves as the company's headquarters, when he acquired Skagenlinjen between Gothenburg and Frederikshavn, Denmark.

In 1972, Stena Line was one of the first ferry operators in Europe to introduce a computer-based reservation system for the travel business area. In 1978, the freight business area also started operating a computer-based reservation system.

Freight

The first freight-focused route [1] started between Gothenburg, Sweden, and Kiel, Germany. The ship was the MS Stena Transporter.

North Sea

During the 1980s, Stena acquired three other ferry companies.

North America

Irish Sea

In 1990, Stena Line doubled in size with the acquisition of Sealink British Ferries from Sea Containers. This first became Sealink Stena Line, then Stena Sealink Line and finally Stena Line (UK), which now operates all of Stena's ferry services between Great Britain and Ireland.[ citation needed ]

Stena Superfast X arriving at Dublin (2017) Stena Superfast X (2017).jpg
Stena Superfast X arriving at Dublin (2017)
Stena Jutlandica in Gothenburg Stena Jutlandica in Gothenburg.jpg
Stena Jutlandica in Gothenburg

In 1996, Stena Line introduced its 20,000 tonne HSS (High-speed Sea Service) vessels, which operated: BelfastStranraer; HolyheadDún Laoghaire and Hook of HollandHarwich. In addition to the three 1,500-passenger HSS vessels, Stena Line ordered two smaller 900-passenger HSS vessels to operate on the GothenburgFrederikshavn route. Due to the bankruptcy of the shipyard, only the first of these vessels was ever completed.

English Channel

In 1998, Stena's operations from Dover and Newhaven formed a joint venture with P&O European Ferries as P&O Stena Line, owned 40% and 60% respectively. In 2002, P&O acquired all of Stena's shares in the company, thus becoming the sole owner of P&O Stena Line, which soon changed its name to P&O Ferries.

Further expansion

In 2000, Stena Line purchased yet another Scandinavian ferry operator: Scandlines AB.[ citation needed ]

In November 2006, Stena ordered a pair of "super ferries" with a gross tonnage of 62,000 from Aker Yards, Germany for delivery in 2010, with an option for two more ships of the same design. [7] The new ferries will be amongst the largest in the world, [8] to be operated on Stena's North Sea route from Hook of Holland to Harwich. The existing ships from the North Sea were to be moved to the Kiel–Gothenborg route, whereas the ships from Kiel would transfer to the Gdynia to Karlskrona route. The new ferries were launched in 2010, with Stena Hollandica entering service on 16 May 2010, and Stena Britannica planned to enter service in the autumn of 2010. [9]

Acquisitions and closures

Routes

Irish Sea

North Sea

Scandinavia

Baltic Sea

Laid up or chartered out

Fleet

Current ships

NameBuiltGross TonnagePassengersNotesImages
Stena Adventurer 200343,5321,500 Stena Adventurer.jpg
Stena Baltica (formerly Stena Mersey)200526,500 (as built)980Lengthened in 2020. Stena Mersey, River Mersey (geograph 4593080).jpg
Stena Britannica 201063,0391,200 MS Stena Britannica 2012-10-10 001.jpg
Stena Danica 198315,8992,300 Stena Danica.jpg
Stena Ebba 202245,0001,200The Fifth E-Flexer Class ship for Stena Line.
Stena Edda 201941,671927The second E-Flexer Class ship for Stena Line. Stena Edda at Birkenhead, 202003.jpg
Stena Embla 202041,671927The third E-Flexer Class ship for Stena Line. Stena Embla at Birkenhead 2021-3.jpg
Stena Estelle 202245,0001,200The Fourth E-Flexer Class ship for Stena Line.
Stena Estrid 201940,500927The first E-Flexer Class ship for Stena Line. Stena Estrid at berth in Holyhead.jpg
Stena Europe 198124,8281,400 Stena Europe Strapline.jpg
Stena Flavia 200826,904830 Stena flavia 2015 Baltic sea.JPG
Stena Forecaster 200324,68812 Here is the shipping forecaster (50788758971).jpg
Stena Forerunner 200324,68812 STENA FORERUNNER (39184614994).jpg
Stena Foreteller 200324,68812 Stena Foreteller in the Kiel Canal V.jpg
Stena Forwarder 201621,96612 Frijsenborg ship R07.jpg
Stena Germanica 200151,837 [32] 1,300 GS001962.jpg
Stena Gothica 198113,294186Rebuilt 1991/1993/2001 Stena Gothica Vid Majnabbeterminalen.jpg
Stena Hibernia199613,01712 StenaHiberniaPIC.jpg
Stena Hollandica 201063,0391,200 Stena hollandica harwich.jpg
Stena Horizon 200627,552972 Stena Horizon approaching Rosslare harbour.jpg
Stena Jutlandica 199629,6911,500 Stena Jutlandica5001.jpg
Stena Livia 200826,904880 Stena Livia - Stena Line (51132114355).jpg
Stena Nautica 198611,763663 Stena Nautica pa vag in i Varbergs hamn.jpg
Stena Nordica 200024,206405Rebuilt in 2023 Stena Nordica.jpg
Stena Scandica (formerly Stena Lagan)200526,500 (as built)980Lengthened in 2021. Stena Scandica.jpg
Stena Scandinavica 200355,050900 Stena Scandinavica 2015-06-15 001.jpg
Stena Scotia 199613,60012 Stena Scotia, 07.02.2016.jpg
Stena Spirit 198839,1931,700 Stena Spirit 2011-08-05 001.jpg
Stena Superfast VII 200130,2851,200Stena took ownership from Tallink in December 2017. 'Stena Superfast VII' in dry dock, Belfast - geograph.org.uk - 5320822.jpg
Stena Superfast VIII 200130,2851,200Stena took ownership from Tallink in December 2017. Stena Superfast VIII.jpg
Stena Transit201133,690300 STENA TRANSIT (37033287692).jpg
Stena Transporter201133,690300 Stena Transporter (12885293065).jpg
Stena Vision 198139,1781,700 Stena vision.jpg
Stena Vinga 200514,551400 Stena Vinga.jpg
Mecklenburg-Vorpommen 199637,987600 Ferry Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.jpg
Skåne 199828,960600 MS Skane.jpg
Urd 198111,030186 Urd IMO 7826855 R Travemunde 13-02-2021 (1).jpg

Currently chartered vessels

Fionia Sea200925,60912
Jutlandia Sea201025,60912

Formerly chartered vessels

POL Maris 200929,90412 POL MARIS (50562957306).jpg
POL Stella (formerly Hatche)200929,00412 HATCHE (50315571597).jpg
Seatruck Panorama 200914,75912Chartered from Seatruck Ferries. SEATRUCKPANORAMA.jpg
Somerset (formerly Spaarneborg)199921,00512 Spaarneborg (1).JPG

Future fleet

On 10 May 2023, Stena has announced that they had ordered two NewMax freight hybrid freight vessels for the Belfast to Heysham route. They are due to begin service in Autumn 2025, giving a 80% boost in capacity to the current ships at 147 metres (482 ft) long with 2,800 lane meters. The NewMax vessels will be methanol powered and have built in electrification including for shore power and battery propulsion. [33]

See also

Related Research Articles

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MV <i>Cotentin</i>

Cotentin is a ROPAX ferry owned and operated by Brittany Ferries between Poole and Cherbourg from January until March 2021 and then Portsmouth and Le Havre from March 2021 until June 2021. She previously operated for Brittany Ferries between 2007 and 2013 between Poole–Cherbourg before being chartered to Stena Line as Stena Baltica serving the route between Gdynia and Karlskrona. The vessel was constructed by Aker Finnyards in Finland and delivered to Brittany Ferries on 9 November 2007. Cotentin sails under the French flag and is registered in Morlaix. The ship's gross tonnage is 22,308.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">High-speed Sea Service</span>

High-speed Sea Service or Stena HSS was a class of high-speed craft developed by and originally operated by Stena Line on European international ferry routes. The HSS 1500 had an in-service speed of 40 knots (75 km/h).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DFDS Seaways</span> Danish shipping company

DFDS Seaways is a Danish shipping company that operates passenger and freight services across northern Europe. Following the acquisition of Norfolkline in 2010, DFDS restructured its other shipping divisions into the previously passenger-only operation of DFDS Seaways.

MS <i>Stena Scandica</i> Ferry serving Baltic Sea, between Nynäshamn, Sweden and Ventspils, Latvia.

MSStena Scandica is a RoPax ferry, owned by Stena Line and it operates on the Baltic Sea between Nynäshamn, Sweden and Ventspils, Latvia.

MS <i>James Joyce</i> 2006 ferry

MS James Joyce is a fast Ro-Pax ferry operated by Irish Ferries on the Dublin to Holyhead and Cherbourg routes on charter from Tallink. She was built as Star at Aker Finnyards Helsinki Shipyard, Finland for Tallink and entered service on their Helsinki – Tallinn service on 12 April 2007. After being chartered by Irish Ferries in 2023, the ship's name was changed to Oscar Wilde. In May 2024, Irish Ferries renamed the ferry James Joyce.

MS <i>Stena Baltica</i> (2005)

MS Stena Baltica is a RoPax ferry, owned by Stena Line and operates on the Baltic Sea between Nynäshamn, Sweden and Ventspils, Latvia. The ship previously operated on the Irish Sea, between Birkenhead and Belfast, as Stena Mersey.

MS <i>Normandy</i> Ferry

The MS Normandy was a ferry, last owned by the Singapore-based oil service company Equinox Offshore Accommodation, under charter to the Morocco-based ferry operator Ferrimaroc. She was built in 1981 by Götaverken, Gothenburg, Sweden, and first entered service in 1982 as MS Prinsessan Birgitta for Stena Sessan Line. She also served under the names MS St Nicholas and MS Stena Normandy.

MS <i>Stena Europe</i> Vehicle and passenger ferry operated by Stena Line

MS Stena Europe is a ferry owned by Stena Line which operates between Algeciras and Tanger Med; under charter to Africa Morocco Link.

HSC <i>Elite Jet</i>

HSC Elite Jet is a high-speed ferry operated by Seajets and operated on Stena Line's Holyhead - Dún Laoghaire route and seasonally on the Fishguard - Rosslare service. She was marketed by Stena Line as the Stena Express. In 2019 was sold by Seajets and underwent repairs at Salamis. The ship was set to be launched on the Santorini – Rethymno route in 2023.

MS <i>Isle of Inishmore</i> (1996)

MS Isle of Inishmore is a ro-ro ferry owned by Irish Ferries and operated on their Dover-Calais service. At the time of her introduction, she was the largest car ferry operating in Northern Europe. She is named after Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands. The name of the ferry is tautologous, since "Inishmore" derives from the Irish for "big island". Despite not being sister ships, the ship's design is copied from the Stena Line vessel Stena Jutlandica up until the superstructure.

MS <i>Stena Nordica</i> (2000) Stena Line ro-pax ferry

Stena Nordica is a ro-pax ferry owned and operated by Stena Line.

MS <i>Port Link</i>

Port Link is a ro-pax ferry that was formerly operated by Sealink and Stena Line between Holyhead and Dun Laoghaire and later Stranraer and Larne / Belfast. Now it is used by ASDP Indonesia Ferry for Merak to Bakauheni line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Celtic Link Ferries</span>

Celtic Link Ferries was an Irish ferry company which used to operate a passenger and freight roll-on/roll-off service between Rosslare and Cherbourg. Celtic Link Ferries ceased operating in February 2014 with Stena Line taking over their route.

MS <i>Norbay</i> Freight vessel operated by P&O

MS Norbay is a ro-pax vessel owned by the British ferry company P&O Ferries and currently chartered to Irish Ferries. She was built by Van Der Giessen-de Noord N.V., Netherlands in 1994.

MS <i>Strait Feronia</i>

Strait Feronia is a passenger, freight and vehicle or ROPAX ferry owned and operated by StraitNZ as part of its Bluebridge subsidiary. The ship is a twin of MS Liverpool Seaways. The vessel was initially named Mersey Viking and saw service in the Irish Sea, eventually being renamed Dublin Viking and then Dublin Seaways. The vessel was acquired by the Stena Line and renamed Stena Feronia and saw service between Tangier and Algericas and later between Kiel and Gothenburg.

Cambridge Ferry was a 3,294 GRT train ferry that was built in 1963 for the British Railways Board. She was sold to Malta in 1992 and renamed Ita Uno. She was renamed Sirio in 1993 and reflagged to Panama in 1998. The ship was scrapped in Turkey in 2003.

MV <i>Stena Livia</i>

Stena Livia is a roll-on/roll-off (Ro/Ro) ferry operated by Stena Line on their Travemünde–Liepāja service. It was built in 2008, and originally named Norman Voyager.

MS <i>Stena Edda</i> Ferry

MSStena Edda is a passenger and vehicle RoPax ferry operated by Stena Line between Birkenhead and Belfast.

MS <i>Stena Embla</i> Ferry

MS Stena Embla is a passenger and vehicle RoPax ferry operated by Stena Line between Birkenhead and Belfast.

References

Notes

  1. Chiefly a freight route. However passengers and cars are transported
  2. "Sessan Linjen" (in Swedish). Fakta om Fartyg. Archived from the original on 1 August 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2007.
  3. "Lion Ferry" (in Swedish). Fakta om Fartyg. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2007.
  4. "Stoomvaart Maatschappij Zeeland" (in Swedish). Fakta om Fartyg. Archived from the original on 31 July 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2007.
  5. "Prince George Citizen". pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca. 15 July 1988. p. 1.
  6. "Prince George Citizen". pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca. 14 November 1990. p. 2.
  7. "Press release". Aker Yards. 9 November 2006. Retrieved 21 September 2007.
  8. "Stena Line announces major investment in innovative ferries". Stena Line press release. Retrieved 21 September 2007.
  9. "'Superferry' in maiden Harwich crossing". BBC News. 16 May 2010. Retrieved 16 May 2010.[ permanent dead link ]
  10. "DFDS sells Irish Sea ferry routes". DFDS A/S. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
  11. "Stena Line buys Celtic Link ferry service". RTÉ News. 26 February 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  12. "EU gives green light to Stena Hyundai Glovis joint-venture". World Maritime News. 5 February 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  13. "Two new vessels to join our Baltic Sea fleet next year - Stena Line Freight". stenalinefreight.com. 27 September 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  14. "Stena Scandica - Stena Line Freight". stenalinefreight.com. 21 June 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  15. "Stena Livia joins the Baltic Sea fleet - Stena Line Freight". stenalinefreight.com. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  16. "New temporary ferry service between Holyhead and Belfast - Stena Line Freight". stenalinefreight.com. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  17. "Our new freight route launched on 1 February - Stena Line Freight". stenalinefreight.com. 3 February 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  18. "Stena Vision in service on our Rosslare-Cherbourg route - Stena Line Freight". stenalinefreight.com. 28 June 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  19. "Discontinuation of our route between Nynäshamn in Sweden and Hanko in Finland from 20 October 2023 - Stena Line Freight". stenalinefreight.com. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  20. "MV Stena Forwarder (ex Frijsenborg) – Past and Present". Dover Ferry Photos. 1 October 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  21. "New Stena Line ferry enters Birkenhead to Belfast service - niferry.co.uk". niferry.co.uk. 5 November 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  22. 1 2 "Launching new freight route from Dublin to Birkenhead (Liverpool) - Stena Line Freight". stenalinefreight.com. 15 December 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  23. "Stena Line confirms launch of new Merseyside to Dublin ferry service - niferry.co.uk". niferry.co.uk. 17 December 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  24. "Stena Line commences new Irish Sea freight-only route". The Irish News. 19 February 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  25. "Stena Rederi closes deal to sell the vessel Urd to Sea Lines | Ships Monthly". 14 March 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  26. "MV Urd (ex Seafreight Highway) – Past and Present". Dover Ferry Photos. 23 September 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  27. "Timetable - Stena Line Freight". stenalinefreight.com. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  28. "Stena Line boosts capacity on Dublin to Liverpool ferry route - niferry.co.uk". niferry.co.uk. 22 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  29. "Boosting our capacity on our Dublin-Liverpool (Birkenhead) route with freight only vessel - Stena Line Freight". stenalinefreight.com. 22 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  30. "Stena Line to replace Stena Europe with Stena Nordica on Fishguard – Rosslare route - StenaLine.com". stenaline.com. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  31. "Stena Forecaster – Stena Roro". stenaroro.com. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  32. "Stena Line – Our ships" . Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  33. "Stena Line boosts freight capacity on Irish Sea with two all-new NewMax hybrid vessels - StenaLine.com". stenaline.com. Retrieved 10 May 2023.

Bibliography

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