Ferry company Stena Line has officially taken ownership of its newest ferry the Stena Estrid. The ship was handed over at the AVIC Weihai Shipyard in north-western China on 20 November.

The first of five next generation Stena Line RoPax vessels that are currently being constructed at the shipyard, Stena Estrid 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, the Stena Embla, to be introduced on the same route in early 2021.

Extra Capacity in the Irish Sea

Part of a multi-million-pound investment in the region, the new Stena Line ships will be amongst the most advanced vessels in operation and larger than today’s standard RoPax vessels. At 215 metres in length, the Stena Estrid will provide freight capacity of 3100 lane metres, meaning a fifty per cent increase in freight tonnage, and the space to carry 120 cars and 1000 passengers and crew.

‘The Stena Estrid will provide a more environmentally sustainable way to travel with more efficient loading and unloading operations, increased freight capacity and the best Scandinavian quality, style and design in our facilities, including the Hygge Lounge and the latest upgrade of our premium area Stena Plus,’ says Stena Line CEO Niclas Mårtensson.

The introduction in 2020/21 of sister ships Stena Edda and Stena Embla will increase freight capacity on the Belfast to Liverpool route by twenty per cent.

Stena Estrid Facts

The name Estrid is connected to Stena Line’s Scandinavian heritage. It is an Old Norse eastern-Nordic version of the name Astrid. Estrid is commonly found on old runestones and means “divinely beautiful”.

  • Builder: AVIC Weihai Shipyard Co (Weihai, China)
  • Type: Ro-Pax ship
  • Ferry route/homeports: Dublin-Holyhead
  • Operator: Stena Line
  • Speed: 22 knots
  • Length (LOA): 215 metres
  • Beam (width): 28 metres
  • Gross Tonnage: 42,400
  • Lane Metres: 3100
  • Passengers: 1000
  • Cars: 120
  • Freight vehicles: 210
  • Cabins: 175

Related News

VIDEO: Second E-Flexer Ferry Launched for Stena Line