It would appear that Stena Line are in the process of procuring SUPERFAST VII and SUPERFAST VIII for the Belfast - Loch Ryan Port Route. The vessels are currently in service with Tallink and will pass to Stena for rebuilding and refurbishment following the summer before a handover scheduled for mid-October and entry into service at the start of November, from which time the new Loch Ryan Port will become operational.
STENA CALEDONIA, STENA NAVIGATOR and STENA VOYAGER HSS will remain in service to Stranraer until the end of October, following which they are expected to be offered for sale.
I believe an announcement from Stena is expected this coming week, perhaps tomorrow (Monday) regarding the purchase of Superfast VII and VIII for the North Channel. They will have most of their cabins removed in a major internal rebuild which will increase vehicle deck headroom and provide accomodation for 1200+ passengers.
It is likely they will adopt generic non-geographical names (as per the current Stena naming policy).
I visited Stena Caledonia in dry dock at Harland and Wolff this afternoon at the kind invitation of her Senior Master, Captain Murray Paterson. This is likely to be the final time a Belfast built ship will be seen in the drydock at the yard that built her. I hope to have some photos online at http://www.flickr.com/photos/scottmackey this evening or tomorrow...
Thats amazing news, I was wondering where they were going to get the vessels from, Stena seem to be in a spending mood at the moment, the purchase and conversion of these ships will cost quite a few Swedish Krona.
These two ships are an exellent choice for the service , I look forward to seeing them after they have been Stenaised.
Interesting this is a charter agreement and not a purchase - announcement #1 from Tallink this morning;
Published: 2011-03-07 08:50:00 CET
Tallink Grupp
Company Announcement
Chartering of Superfast vessels
Tallinn, 2011-03-07 08:50 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chartering of Superfast vessels
The subsidiaries of AS Tallink Grupp, Baltic SF VII Ltd and Baltic SF VIII Ltd have concluded the charter agreements with Stena Line Ltd for M/S Superfast VII and M/S Superfast VIII. The vessels will be delivered after the end of the high season in August 2011. Until then they are operated on their current route by Tallink. The agreed charter period is three years with the charterers’ option to extend for one additional year. The vessels will be operated in the UK waters.
Tallink has been operating M/S Superfast VII and M/S Superfast VIII between Finland and Germany since April 2006. As a result of the increased competition on the route, the increased fuel prices and global recession in the past few years the financial result of Finland-Germany segment of Tallink has become negative. For the 2009/2010 financial year Tallink reported a loss of EUR 14 million from this segment. The prospective charter will improve the result of these vessels so that they will be generating a profit.
Harri Hanschmidt
Head of Investor Relations
AS Tallink Grupp
Sadama 5/7. 10111 Tallinn
Tel +372 640 8981
E-mail harri.hanschmidt@tallink.
ANNOUNCEMENT #2 from Stena Line;
STENA LINE THINKS BIG WITH NEW SHIPS
FOR ITS SCOTLAND-NORTHERN IRELAND SERVICE
Ferry company brings in two of the biggest ships ever to work the Scotland-N. Ireland route
Leading ferry company Stena Line today confirmed the addition of two new Superfast ferries on its service between Scotland and Northern Ireland in Autumn 2011 to coincide with the opening of its new £80m Loch Ryan Port at Cairnryan.
Sister ships Superfast VII and Superfast VIII will replace the HSS Stena Voyager, Stena Caledonia and Stena Navigator, which currently operate between the two countries.
The Superfast vessels, the biggest ships ever to operate on the Scotland-Northern Ireland route, will cater for both passenger and freight traffic. For freight customers, the ships will be altered to allow for extra deck height to accommodate the trend for higher, more efficient freight units.
Each ship can carry up to 1,200 passengers, around 660 cars or 110 freight vehicles and will be able to complete the journey between Scotland and the heart of Belfast in 2 hours, 15 minutes. They each have a gross tonnage of 30,285 and are capable of travelling at 27 knots. The ships will be leased from Tallink, the Baltic Sea shipping group.
The introduction of the new ships to the route later this year will coincide with the opening of Stena Line's purpose built £80M port facility at Loch Ryan Port, Cairnryan in Scotland, which will replace its current base at Stranraer.
Gunnar Blomdahl, Managing Director of Stena Line said: "This investment is another stage in Stena Line's ongoing multi million pound investment program which aims to take the Stena Line fleet to the next level. I'm convinced that the changes on this route will be very positive for our customers between Scotland and Northern Ireland."
Before the ships are deployed on the route both vessels will be given extensive refits to ensure that they deliver a great experience with new attractive onboard concepts for restaurants and public areas and as well as providing
complete flexibility for freight operators. The upgrades will include the provision of extra deck height to cater for the trend towards higher vehicles and hauliers' increased use of double –deck freight units.
Frank Nieuwenhuys, Freight Commercial Manager, Stena Line UK and Ireland said: "Belfast is now firmly established as the logistics focal point in Northern Ireland and the deployment of the new ships later this year will coincide with the opening of our new purpose built £80m port facility at Loch Ryan Port, Cairnryan in Scotland, which will replace our current base in Stranraer.
[more...]
He added: "The new ships will connect these two key locations, delivering unparalleled service ahead of expectations, to the ever-demanding logistics
sector. The new ships will be the largest vessels ever to operate between Scotland and Northern Ireland and will provide Stena Line with increased operational efficiency by replacing three ships with two. With a journey time of
2hr 15mins to the heart of Belfast freight customers can look forward to a great service direct to and from Northern Ireland's capital."
[ends]
MEDIA ENQUIRIES: For further information please contact Fiona Brown at Duffy
Rafferty Communications on Belfast (028) 9073 0880.
Journey times of 2 hours and 15mins suggest they are faster than conventional ferries. I presume they are not as thirsty as the HSS though?
Can we expect a similar strategy on the central route?
If these vessels are chartered there must be a risk that the owners might want them back in 4 years.
They are capable of 27 knots, but would probably not operate at quite that speed and much more frugal than an HSS. The plan is, I'd say, for newbuilds in 3-4 years, hence the charter period.
Will particularly miss Navigator, myself - I've two more trips scheduled on her before she's taken off the route, will make the most of them.
Can't deny the lure of travelling on a new-to-me ship, though, and I'm sure Stena will do them up internally as well as or better than the current ones...
I would agree that it is likely that these 2 ships being chartered points to new tonnage in a few years , it may also be possible that Stena are waiting to see how the restructured service works out before committing to new vessels for it , equally if these 2 work out Stena may look to purchase them from Tallink.
As for the central route , I dont see Stena Adventurer going anywhere for the forseeable future (nor would I want too as she is a fine vessel) , I think its likely that Stena will operate the Stena Lynx III from Dun Laoghaire once Stena Explorer has departed with the future of fastcraft services at Rosslare in doubt (this would tie in with Stena Europe being replaced with a larger/faster vessel).
Any one know if Stena has a proposed timetable from each port does anyone have a schedule yet. Is there an official launch date for the new ships and new port.
QuoteAny one know if Stena has a proposed timetable from each port does anyone have a schedule yet. Is there an official launch date for the new ships and new port.
Should start on 1st Nov if all goes to plan, no timetable published yet...
Hi folks, new here, but a long standing ferry buff, right from the childhood days of the Antrim and Ailsa on the North Channel!
Looking forward to seeing the new Superfast ships in Belfast...two questions though.
1. What is the extent of the work being done to prepare them for the North Channel?
2. Are there any plans to run 'farewell' trips on the Voyager, Caledonia or Navigator?
Sam
Hi Sam,
By all accounts the work to the Superfast ships is very extensive - increasing vehicle deck headroom (will be interesting to see how they do this!) and total gutting and rebuild of the interior.
As regards farewell trips, Stena Caledonia's Senior Master Captain Murray Paterson has made proposals to the company for an event/cruise to mark her 30th anniversary in August. I have been working with him on some articles about the ship, one of which will be in June's edition of Ships Monthly (out 29th April). In any case, this year (for the first time in a long while) non-landers are available on the Caledonia and Navigator as well as the long-standing availability of such trips on HSS Voyager.
Scott
It will be a very sade day when the Caledonia leave belfast
And also with the withdrawl of the HSS stena will make a step back of 15 years and deffo not the way too compete with low cost airlines
Both HSS services will be missed but the Superfasts will not take that much longer to complete the crossings on the north channel as the HSS service runs at reduced speed nowadays.
Would be great if for the final week Stena ran the two HSS services on the original timetable and at high speed so people could get one last chance to experience the ships as they were originally intended.
Even from mid September 2011 for 6 weeks bring it back up to full speed from the end off Loch Ryan to the start of Belfast Loch, let them show the passengers how the HSS should run. I'm sure they could give the passenger a run for there money which they enjoy. Port to Port like the old days in 90 minutes. Remember the days when the HSS running late doing Stranraer to Belfast old port in 70 minutes those where the days :D :D :D.
Will miss the old girl on the Route and the Caledonia and Navigator in the later years. Hope they are put to some use somewhere and they are not just left to be mothballed.
I'm sure stena will do a good job on the new ships which they plan to introduce to the route, as they did when the introduce the navigator.
It's a nice idea, running the HSSs back at full speed, but I think they've been trying to wean the public of them for the last 3 years; I think the last thing they want to do is remind them of how good they are just before they disappear for good.
The two and a quarter hours on the north channel is good for the new vessels, but I still think they've got their work cut out developing a strategy for Dun Laoghaire / Holyhead. I read recently that 70% of the summer market still goes through the port; that's a lot of passengers they've not yet managed to convince to go through Dublin port despite just sailing once a day, and a lot to risk losing to IF. I doubt one sailing a day of the Express during the summer (presuming the Rosslare service ceased) would be sufficient.
Developing such a strategy is clearly something they've bought themselves time to do with their new 2 year (plus an option on a further year) contract with DLHarbour.
QuoteHi Sam,
As regards farewell trips, Stena Caledonia's Senior Master Captain Murray Paterson has made proposals to the company for an event/cruise to mark her 30th anniversary in August. I have been working with him on some articles about the ship, one of which will be in June's edition of Ships Monthly (out 29th April).
Would look forward to that Scott...I have a vivid memory of standing on McCaughey Road with my father when I was about ten, and seeing three of the Saints across the Victoria Channel being outfitted. All were still in red lead, and seemed to be massive in comparison to anything we had seen before that. With all four having served on the North Channel, they really are 'our' ferries! Also managed a bridge visit to the Stena Antrim some years ago...very special trip!
[/quote]
Would look forward to that Scott...I have a vivid memory of standing on McCaughey Road with my father when I was about ten, and seeing three of the Saints across the Victoria Channel being outfitted. All were still in red lead, and seemed to be massive in comparison to anything we had seen before that. With all four having served on the North Channel, they really are 'our' ferries! Also managed a bridge visit to the Stena Antrim some years ago...very special trip!
[/quote]
Sam, Yes, I feel like I've grown up with them and will certainly feel we are worse off when the Caledonia leaves. If you're interested, I have a selection of photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/scottmackey
Quotewith the withdrawl of the HSS stena will make a step back of 15 years and deffo not the way too compete with low cost airlines
Given the running costs of the HSS, I don't think they had much choice.
That said: HSS crossing time to Stranraer on the current timetable is 2hr10 / 2hr20, depending on sailing (2hrs / 2hr10 Stranraer to Belfast). Stena's press release announcing the Superfast leases talks about a crossing time of 2hr15 (partly thanks to the move to Loch Ryan Port). They're not really losing anything.
(...and personally, always preferred the slow boats anyway, they have a far more relaxed feel about them. Will miss Navigator, myself.)
Scott,
Some impressive shots there...from memory, only the Galloway originally had a bulbous bow...the St. Christopher / St. Anselm / St. David all had bow rudders if memory serves me. Caledonia must have had hers added later. Pity about the stern sponsons though...ruin an otherwise impressive (if not exactly svelte) design.
QuoteIt's a nice idea, running the HSSs back at full speed, but I think they've been trying to wean the public of them for the last 3 years; I think the last thing they want to do is remind them of how good they are just before they disappear for good.
The two and a quarter hours on the north channel is good for the new vessels, but I still think they've got their work cut out developing a strategy for Dun Laoghaire / Holyhead. I read recently that 70% of the summer market still goes through the port; that's a lot of passengers they've not yet managed to convince to go through Dublin port despite just sailing once a day, and a lot to risk losing to IF. I doubt one sailing a day of the Express during the summer (presuming the Rosslare service ceased) would be sufficient.
Developing such a strategy is clearly something they've bought themselves time to do with their new 2 year (plus an option on a further year) contract with DLHarbour.
Good points there FastFerryFan - I think Dun Laoghaire/Holyhead definitely has good potential, particularly given the level of loyalty shown to it by Stenas passenger-base. The problems that Stena had with the Lynx (both weather and mechanical) when it was double-tripping last Spring caused a lot of cancellations and they were very anxious to avoid that this year. Thus, we got HSS for a full season (probably until the end of September, taking in those last two weeks).
As for what happens then, well I dont know and I have a suspicion that Stena dont either. The easy and cheap solution is a seasonal service using the Lynx but they will be aware that passengers pay a premium for the Dun Laoghaire service and won't tolerate the regular cancellations that happen with a smaller vessel (no disrespect to the Lynx, shes a good craft and lovely inside). She would need to be reliably double tripping every day June-August at least.
Potential exists for perhaps a lease on one of the larger Incats knocking about. If the service is just to run 6/7 months a year - lets say March/April to September/October then renting in a vessel may well be a viable option, particularly given that the charges in Dun Laoghaire have returned to a rational level. Other possibilities obviously also include the HSS 900 from Scandinavia, retention of HSS Explorer in the hope that oil prices will drop (or indeed passenger numbers will climb - both achieve the exact same result in terms of breakeven) or possibly the reintroduction of a conventional ferry.
Most options would probably require work at Dun Laoghaire and Holyhead too but if there is a 6 month off season then they can be achieved quite easily. More likely is that we will see Lynx on the run next year double tripping while a more permanent solution is found. Outside of that, its all about the marketing - no amount of ads will get loyal customers to like North Wall (unsurprisingly!) so its all about selling them the best of Dun Laoghaire and keeping them as customers.
I for one will miss the HSS having travelled on her numerous times over the years. Most recent trip was just about 10 days ago on a rough old day on the Irish sea. Swift was tied up for 3 days and the HSS (and her always excellent crew) handled the waves like a pro.
Pete
QuoteQuotewith the withdrawl of the HSS stena will make a step back of 15 years and deffo not the way too compete with low cost airlines
Given the running costs of the HSS, I don't think they had much choice.
That said: HSS crossing time to Stranraer on the current timetable is 2hr10 / 2hr20, depending on sailing (2hrs / 2hr10 Stranraer to Belfast). Stena's press release announcing the Superfast leases talks about a crossing time of 2hr15 (partly thanks to the move to Loch Ryan Port). They're not really losing anything.
(...and personally, always preferred the slow boats anyway, they have a far more relaxed feel about them. Will miss Navigator, myself.)
The HSS is unique in my eyes and personally I hate sitting on a old boat to china
But also it will be sad to see all 3 ships going but especially the HSS
Quote
Would look forward to that Scott...I have a vivid memory of standing on McCaughey Road with my father when I was about ten, and seeing three of the Saints across the Victoria Channel being outfitted. All were still in red lead, and seemed to be massive in comparison to anything we had seen before that. With all four having served on the North Channel, they really are 'our' ferries! Also managed a bridge visit to the Stena Antrim some years ago...very special trip!
Sam, Yes, I feel like I've grown up with them and will certainly feel we are worse off when the Caledonia leaves. If you're interested, I have a selection of photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/scottmackey
Does anyone have pics of the 3 saints being built?
QuoteScott,
Some impressive shots there...from memory, only the Galloway originally had a bulbous bow...the St. Christopher / St. Anselm / St. David all had bow rudders if memory serves me. Caledonia must have had hers added later. Pity about the stern sponsons though...ruin an otherwise impressive (if not exactly svelte) design.
Yes, the Caledonia had the bulbous bow added in 1999 along with the sponsons. These definitely did nothing for her aesthetically as you say, but undoubtedly contributed to her lengthy career. I believe that had she not been modified in this manner she would, almost certainly, have left these shores years ago...
Video of the new port under construction for Stena Line on tis youtube channel.
http://www.youtube.com/stenaline#p/u/13/VO9vJgvqBk8
Glad to see the the new port in Cairnryan is making good progress, does anyone yet know a date for operation off the new port and is their a proposed new timetable yet.
Some news on the two new vessels for Belfast
http://www.portalmorski.pl/artykul/index/remontowa-zmodernizuje-dwa-promy-dla-stena-line/19035
(Translated by Google Chrome)
Entering Superfast VII and Superfast VIII to Gdansk is provided in the second half of August 2011.
The two sister units Superfast Ferries VII and VIII are operated by Stena Line AB will go to rebuilding the Gdansk Repair Shipyard. Rebuilt will include decks for trucks and passenger space with restaurants , bars and spaces for recreation. Swedish shipowner charter a Superfast VII and VIII for a period of three years. - unfortunately we can not give the total cost of reconstruction - said Joakim Kenndal, communications director Stena Line AB. - We are bound by trade secret. Unofficially it is said that the total cost of reconstruction is approximately 14 million euros. Both ships were built at HDW shipyard in Kiel in 2001 to a Greek shipowner Superfast Ferries. In 2006, were sold to the Estonian Tallink shipowner. Stena Line chartered the units from the Estonian company in early 2011. Individuals can take 717 passengers and cargo to 1924 meters. Reach speeds of 27 knots. Ferries come into operation in autumn 2011 to connect Belfast-Stranraer, which will eventually be converted into a Belfast-Cairnryan route
More details on the rebuild from the shipyard.
http://www.remontowa.com.pl/index.php?n=566
Two Stena Line chartered sister ferries come to Remontowa for major refit
Tallink and Stena Line entered in a charter agreement for sister vessels Superfast VII and Superfast VIII servicing the route between Rostock and Helsinki so far. From Autumn 2011, after transformation of passenger and cargo spaces at "Remontowa", they will join Stena Line UK fleet for a 3 years deal including a 1 year option for both vessels. Stena will be able to buy the vessels once the charter ended
Superfast VII and Superfast VIII will be used on the Irish Sea route linking Belfast and Stranraer (with the latter to be replaced by Loch Ryan soon). The vessels will undergo an extensive refit programme in order to be upgraded according to Stena Line requirements for the new route for these ships. The ferries come to Gda[ch324]sk - based "Remontowa" Shiprepair Yard in the second half of August for this refit, upgrade, repairs and maintenance programme.
This will include stripping all passenger cabins off decks 7th and 8th. They will be replaced by common passenger spaces with restaurants, bars and entertainment functions. Also car decks will be modified and all necessary changes or upgrades to general ship's systems will be performed. In result, the pair will be converted from overnight ferries (with 678 beds) to day ferries to operate an intensive 2 hours 15 minutes crossing.
As reported on www. stenaline.ie: "Both vessels will be given extensive refits to ensure they deliver a great experience with new attractive onboard concepts for restaurants and public areas and as well as providing complete flexibility for freight operators. The upgrades will include the provision of extra deck height to cater for the trend towards higher vehicles and hauliers' increased use of double-deck freight units".
After conversion, the 27 knot Superfast VII and Superfast VIII will be able to handle 1200 passengers with 660 cars or 120 freight vehicles. The two ferries will enter into service in autumn 2011.
The ferries to be upgraded at "Remontowa" before the end of Autumn 2011 were built at HDW Yard, Kiel, in 2001 for Greek Superfast Ferries. In 2006, they were sold to Estonian Tallink. The Superfast VII and the Superfast VIII will replace the HSS Stena Voyager, the Stena Caledonia and the Stena Navigator on the Belfast-Stranraer run.
Stena Lines new services are scheduled to start in November. Announced on their Facebook Site today
Our new port and Superfast Ferries are due to begin operation in November, but an exact date has yet to confirmed. As soon as we know we will update our website and announce it on our Stena Line UK and Stena Line IE Facebook pages!
The Superfast vessels are finishing their summer season with Tallink today (14th August) and are expected to be handed over to Stena Line for conversion early this week, where the ships will sail to Poland for the work to be carried out.
Images of the Superfast VIII leaving Finland for the final time on this site
https://sites.google.com/site/baloossite/other-pictures/superfast
The Superfast VII which is in the port of Muuga, in Estonia is due to arrive in Gdansk at the weekend to begin its conversion for use by Stena Line.
I assume the Superfast VIII is also going to arrive at a similar time.
Both vessels now in Gdansk shipyard, next stop the Irish Sea in November.
Superfast VIII arriving in Gdansk on the 22/08/2011
http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/showallphotos.aspx?imo=9198953
Was wondering if a timetable for the new Belfast – Cairnryan timetable is available even a proposed timetable. With the service due to be introduce in November 2011 I thought the Stenaline website would be updated by now. As you can still book on the website sailing to Stranaer in November 2011 - January 2012.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/business-news/newry-firm-to-fit-out-stenas-next-generation-of-superfast-ferries-16040415.html
A CO Down firm is to fit out two huge ferries which will be crossing the Irish Sea later this year.
The sister ships Stena Superfast VII and Superfast VIII will be the biggest ferries ever to sail between Northern Ireland and Scotland on the Belfast-Cairnryan route and will undergo a refurbishment at the Remotova shipyard in Poland.
Stena Line has appointed specialist marine outfitters MJM Marine from Newry to carry out the work.
Paul Grant, Stena Line's route director, said the firm will be launching a new purpose-built port and terminal at Cairnryan in November as well as introducing the two new ships onto the route.
"It will be a huge milestone for this service and the culmination of an ongoing investment programme which started with the construction of our new terminal at VT4 in Belfast back in 2008," he said.
"The ship layout will also be changed to accommodate our freight customers and, for the first time on the route, there will be no deck height restrictions, which means that we can accommodate virtually any load our freight customers have.
"We believe that this will provide us with a unique competitive advantage in the market."
The new vessels will each be able to accommodate 1,200 passengers, 660 cars or 110 freight units and will operate up to 12 daily departures between Belfast and Cairnryan, all year round
Timetable for the New Superfast service is now online
http://www.stenaline.co.uk/ferry/routes/belfast-stranraer/timetable
Superfast crossing time from 2 hrs 15 mins
Sailing Times 22 November - 24 December
Latest Check-in Times
Superferry/Stena HSS/Superfast 30 minutes
Good to see a local firm win the contract do the refit for the superfast ferries. When are the two boats due to Belfast to start the refit or where is refit happening, as see from Ship Map AIS there are dock in Gdansk. Is the paint work being completed in Belfast or is this being done now in Gdansk.
Hard to believe but Stena Line are now 2 years into their 3 year charter of the Superfast vessels on the North Channel operation. They have an option for another year, one would think with the vast amount of money they spent converting the ships to a day ferry configuration taking a fourth year will be an easy decision.
original announcement from Tallink
http://www.nasdaqomxbaltic.com/market/?pg=details&instrument=EE3100004466&list=2&tab=news&news_id=247233
Tallink Grupp Company Announcement 07.03.2011
Chartering of Superfast vessels
Tallinn, 2011-03-07 08:50 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chartering of Superfast
vessels
The subsidiaries of AS Tallink Grupp, Baltic SF VII Ltd and Baltic SF VIII Ltd
have concluded the charter agreements with Stena Line Ltd for M/S Superfast VII
and M/S Superfast VIII. The vessels will be delivered after the end of the high
season in August 2011. Until then they are operated on their current route by
Tallink. The agreed charter period is three years with the charterers' option
to extend for one additional year. The vessels will be operated in the UK
waters.
Tallink has been operating M/S Superfast VII and M/S Superfast VIII between
Finland and Germany since April 2006. As a result of the increased competition
on the route, the increased fuel prices and global recession in the past few
years the financial result of Finland-Germany segment of Tallink has become
negative. For the 2009/2010 financial year Tallink reported a loss of EUR 14
million from this segment. The prospective charter will improve the result of
these vessels so that they will be generating a profit.
Marine Atlantic have recently extended their charter of the sister ship Superfast IX for an extra year.
https://newsclient.omxgroup.com/cdsPublic/viewDisclosure.action?disclosureId=569620&messageId=703591
Charter of Superfast IX
Tallinn, 2013-08-22 08:50 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A subsidiary of AS Tallink Grupp, Baltic SF IX Limited and Marine Atlantic Inc, a Canadian company with the state participation therein, have concluded to extend the charter agreement of Superfast IX for one year, until November 2014. Marine Atlantic Inc plans to continue operating the vessel in the Canadian waters under the name of M/S Atlantic Vision.
M/S Superfast IX has been on the long-term bareboat charter since November 14, 2008.