stena new services in baltic increased capacity n sea

[market knowledge]

will this have any impact on irish sea
as an example will dry dock cover be more problematic

[PaddyL]

will this have any impact on irish sea
as an example will dry dock cover be more problematic

Why would you suggest that?

Stena's refit plan is different every year so they'd just adapt to whatever the competing pressures are for tonnage and what's available on charter market.

[market knowledge]

point is last 2 years Nordica has covered
very little available in charter market

[RorieLen]

point is last 2 years Nordica has covered
very little available in charter market

Bear in mind what ships will and won't be dry docked in 2018 and how this will affect the need for a cover ship... By my reckoning, Stena Adventurer and Stena Horizon will be refitted as they were not done in 2017, also Stena Europe (rumoured to be having major life extension work carried out) plus Stena Superfast VII (2 weeks earlier this year so 1 week next year) and Stena Superfast VIII (1 week earlier this year so 2 weeks next year)?

[PaddyL]

point is last 2 years Nordica has covered
very little available in charter market

Not correct.

Nordica covered most of refit period in 2015 and all in 2017.


It's impossible to say what they will do without having an intimate knowledge of requirements on each route.  For example could Goteborg - Fredrikshavn spare the Stena Gothica to cover for Stena Nordica.  Could Stena Nordica even be spared?

Quite possibly yes to all the above.

Nordica is the ideal cover version for Irish Sea and there are even anecdotal reports that Belfast freight goes up as she is more suitable than the Superfast ships.

[giftgrub]

Some info on next years refits:


IMPORTANT NOTIFICATION Please note: During our refit season, there will be no sailings on our Rosslare-Cherbourg route from 20th February – 19th March inclusive. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

The last sailing from Rosslare to Cherbourg before refit will be at 16.30 on 17th February.
The first sailing from Rosslare to Cherbourg after refit will be at 21.30 on 20th March.

https://www.stenaline.ie/ferries-to-france

[PaddyL]

Some info on next years refits:


IMPORTANT NOTIFICATION Please note: During our refit season, there will be no sailings on our Rosslare-Cherbourg route from 20th February – 19th March inclusive. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

The last sailing from Rosslare to Cherbourg before refit will be at 16.30 on 17th February.
The first sailing from Rosslare to Cherbourg after refit will be at 21.30 on 20th March.

https://www.stenaline.ie/ferries-to-france

Certainly a clue of plans but given the Horizon needs a drydock, there must be much more to come.

[Steven]

Some info on next years refits:


IMPORTANT NOTIFICATION Please note: During our refit season, there will be no sailings on our Rosslare-Cherbourg route from 20th February – 19th March inclusive. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

The last sailing from Rosslare to Cherbourg before refit will be at 16.30 on 17th February.
The first sailing from Rosslare to Cherbourg after refit will be at 21.30 on 20th March.

https://www.stenaline.ie/ferries-to-france

Certainly a clue of plans but given the Horizon needs a drydock, there must be much more to come.

I agree.  It's possible that more than 1 vessel could be involved in refit cover as well of course, particularly if Europe is out of service for an extended period for the rumoured life extension work.  Stena Gothica could possibly provide cover for Nordica of course, though there was talk of Gothica providing Irish Sea cover in the past.  Much will depend on what exactly needs done and when.  History shows that the Belfast Superfasts will get 3 weeks between them (though now they are owned will this change?).  As Rorie says Adventurer and Horizon didn't get refits last year so they'll probably get done too.