Superfast IX charter renewed

[giftgrub]

Marine Atlantic have renewed their charter of Superfast IX for another year.

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/03/19/1757022/0/en/AS-Tallink-Grupp-has-extended-vessel-charter-agreement.html?fbclid=IwAR15KII0-EuziTfRszTpoGv2IC64d1GGYpadJGj566d1XGUfIEQf0LaCh6s

Given the links between Marine Atlantic and Stena, they would be prime candidates to purchase the Superfast X when it becomes available next year, once the Stena Estrid enters service and Stena Adventurer visits drydock Stena will no longer have a route suitable for the X.

[giftgrub]

Possibly  a new home for Superfast X

https://www.thewesternstar.com/news/local/a-new-ferry-for-newfoundland-and-labrador-but-still-questions-about-2019-federal-budget-293476/?fbclid=IwAR25e9gozpGLefTZTVu_WBWahnK6wcNqMHXEVhZcXwKZ6MEtK0NPncezswg

Funding to replace Leif Ericson, the former Stena Challenger

http://www.ferry-site.dk/ferry.php?id=8917388&lang=en

[giftgrub]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/marine-atlantic-ferry-diversity-1.5067267?fbclid=IwAR2L4bDuhoc4KvQ9htubSXQxTSo5LXA9Uu6JOoODY0YIOS9rhKSL-ZXVqds

[Davy Jones]

Do we know that once she has received her life extension refit, will Stena Europe definitely be returning to Fishguard/Rosslare, or could she move elsewhere (perhaps a Baltic route) and SFX be retained for the Southern corridor?

[RorieLen]

They are increasing deck height on more of her main vehicle deck which is only really a requirement for the Irish Sea routes so I would safely say she will be retained at Rosslare for the foreseeable future.

I think I heard that Superfast X is either sold or in the process of being sold.

[Steven]

Do we know that once she has received her life extension refit, will Stena Europe definitely be returning to Fishguard/Rosslare, or could she move elsewhere (perhaps a Baltic route) and SFX be retained for the Southern corridor?

Highly unlikely Europe is going anywhere else despite some people seemingly being intent on spreading a rumour that just such a thing will be happening.

They are increasing deck height on more of her main vehicle deck which is only really a requirement for the Irish Sea routes so I would safely say she will be retained at Rosslare for the foreseeable future.

Exactly this.  There would be no point in going to the expense of increasing vehicle deck height for anywhere but the Irish Sea.  There's also the fact that major money would need to be spent at Fishguard just to accommodate a ship the size of X (and the works would take time with X likely already displaced early next year).  The obvious reason to invest the large sum they are in Europe is she is a good fit for the route as well as both its ports.  Elsewhere there are other vessels that make more sense (not least their existing tonnage).  If nothing else it should hopefully buy the route time until things are a lot more certain politically and an informed decision made about the future direction of the route in terms of tonnage.

[IFPete]

Would Superfast X not be suitable for Frederickshaven Goteburg or Frederickshaven - Oslo or a new route Belfast - Troon.

[giftgrub]

Would Superfast X not be suitable for Frederickshaven Goteburg or Frederickshaven - Oslo or a new route Belfast - Troon.

Too small for Gothenburg Fredrickshaven, Danica can carry a 1,000 more passengers per sailing, Jutlandica 300 more not enough passenger capacity and also for Oslo not enough passenger or cabins capacity, Saga can carry 800 more passengers and has 1,600 bed spaces, Belfast -Troon highly unlikely with a ferry that size.

[Steven]

Would Superfast X not be suitable for Frederickshaven Goteburg or Frederickshaven - Oslo or a new route Belfast - Troon.

Apart from the fact Belfast to Troon makes little sense due to it being just as quick (not to mention cheaper) to sail to Cairnryan and drive than to cross by conventional ferry, there's absolutely no hope of getting a vessel the size of X berthed at Troon!  European Causeway is about as big as will go.

Gothenburg to Frederikshavn is configured with one more passenger orientated ferry (the still extremely popular and well maintained STENA DANICA) and one Ro-Pax (STENA JUTLANDICA).  Both are also purpose built for the route of course.  Freight demand has increased and so a third vessel has been added (currently STENA VINGA).  Shoehorning X in as a replacement for either of the main vessels just doesn't make any sense - Jutlandica has about the same freight capacity and more passenger capacity than X.  Danica has more passenger capacity.  X is no freighter either.

The Oslo route is more of a cruise ferry route and geared towards that traffic.  X is many things but a cruise ferry isn't one of them.  Saga also has a heck of a lot more passenger capacity than X.  It's hard to see where Stena could move X within the current Stena Line network to be honest.

[bissiere]

can be rosslare cherbourg for superfast x?

[Niall]

Would Superfast X not be suitable for Frederickshaven Goteburg or Frederickshaven - Oslo or a new route Belfast - Troon.

Apart from the fact Belfast to Troon makes little sense due to it being just as quick (not to mention cheaper) to sail to Cairnryan and drive than to cross by conventional ferry, there's absolutely no hope of getting a vessel the size of X berthed at Troon!  European Causeway is about as big as will go.

Gothenburg to Frederikshavn is configured with one more passenger orientated ferry (the still extremely popular and well maintained STENA DANICA) and one Ro-Pax (STENA JUTLANDICA).  Both are also purpose built for the route of course.  Freight demand has increased and so a third vessel has been added (currently STENA VINGA).  Shoehorning X in as a replacement for either of the main vessels just doesn't make any sense - Jutlandica has about the same freight capacity and more passenger capacity than X.  Danica has more passenger capacity.  X is no freighter either.

The Oslo route is more of a cruise ferry route and geared towards that traffic.  X is many things but a cruise ferry isn't one of them.  Saga also has a heck of a lot more passenger capacity than X.  It's hard to see where Stena could move X within the current Stena Line network to be honest.

My guess is that Stena will charter X out or will put it up for sale. Most likely will end up in the Med somewhere.

[IFPete]

And no need for a 3rd vessel on Belfast Cairnryan,

[RorieLen]

can be rosslare cherbourg for superfast x?

Superfast X only has less than 50 cabins so she would be far from suitable

[RorieLen]

Would Superfast X not be suitable for Frederickshaven Goteburg or Frederickshaven - Oslo or a new route Belfast - Troon.

Apart from the fact Belfast to Troon makes little sense due to it being just as quick (not to mention cheaper) to sail to Cairnryan and drive than to cross by conventional ferry, there's absolutely no hope of getting a vessel the size of X berthed at Troon!  European Causeway is about as big as will go.

Gothenburg to Frederikshavn is configured with one more passenger orientated ferry (the still extremely popular and well maintained STENA DANICA) and one Ro-Pax (STENA JUTLANDICA).  Both are also purpose built for the route of course.  Freight demand has increased and so a third vessel has been added (currently STENA VINGA).  Shoehorning X in as a replacement for either of the main vessels just doesn't make any sense - Jutlandica has about the same freight capacity and more passenger capacity than X.  Danica has more passenger capacity.  X is no freighter either.

The Oslo route is more of a cruise ferry route and geared towards that traffic.  X is many things but a cruise ferry isn't one of them.  Saga also has a heck of a lot more passenger capacity than X.  It's hard to see where Stena could move X within the current Stena Line network to be honest.

My guess is that Stena will charter X out or will put it up for sale. Most likely will end up in the Med somewhere.

I would say it's almost certain they will move the ship on as there is no place for her in Stena Line's network.

[Steven]

Would Superfast X not be suitable for Frederickshaven Goteburg or Frederickshaven - Oslo or a new route Belfast - Troon.

Apart from the fact Belfast to Troon makes little sense due to it being just as quick (not to mention cheaper) to sail to Cairnryan and drive than to cross by conventional ferry, there's absolutely no hope of getting a vessel the size of X berthed at Troon!  European Causeway is about as big as will go.

Gothenburg to Frederikshavn is configured with one more passenger orientated ferry (the still extremely popular and well maintained STENA DANICA) and one Ro-Pax (STENA JUTLANDICA).  Both are also purpose built for the route of course.  Freight demand has increased and so a third vessel has been added (currently STENA VINGA).  Shoehorning X in as a replacement for either of the main vessels just doesn't make any sense - Jutlandica has about the same freight capacity and more passenger capacity than X.  Danica has more passenger capacity.  X is no freighter either.

The Oslo route is more of a cruise ferry route and geared towards that traffic.  X is many things but a cruise ferry isn't one of them.  Saga also has a heck of a lot more passenger capacity than X.  It's hard to see where Stena could move X within the current Stena Line network to be honest.

My guess is that Stena will charter X out or will put it up for sale. Most likely will end up in the Med somewhere.

I would say it's almost certain they will move the ship on as there is no place for her in Stena Line's network.

Totally agree.  With Stena RoRo's conversion expertise she could end up almost anywhere as well!.

can be rosslare cherbourg for superfast x?

Highly unlikely.  More likely Stena RoRo will move her on for a profit (especially given her lack of cabin accommodation for fitting into an overnight route).  She'd need a significant rebuild to be made suitable which would be difficult to justify on cost reasons given other options Stena could have available (easier to justify if supplying her to someone else though as it can be built into the price_.  Even then, there would be no increase in vehicle space,actually a reduction in real terms from the top of my head, which would be one of the main reasons to replace Horizon given she has less space than the competition.