Stena Line fleet movements

[Fast Ferry Fan]

[/quote]June? Odd time for a refit...
[/quote]
Not that odd I suppose if she needs cover and the Explorer is only operating til mid-September.

[giftgrub]

The new Stena Scandinavica IV enters service on the 19th April, replacing the Stena Scandinavica on the route. Also in Gothenborg the HSS 900 Stena Carisma has received a fresh coat of paint and a different interpretation of the new Stena Line branding. If fuel prices were a lot cheaper the Irish Sea based HSS 1500's would probably have revamped in a similar way to this, instead they have apparently been listed for sale with a ship brokers:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IrishSeaShips/message/29225

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/showallphotos.aspx?mmsi=266343000#top_photo

[ScottMackey]

June? Odd time for a refit...
[/quote]
Not that odd I suppose if she needs cover and the Explorer is only operating til mid-September.[/quote]

STENA ADVENTURER will be covered by NORMAN TRADER during her refit and STENA EXPLORER will, apparently, operate 2 daily round trips for the 12-14 day period...

[Fast Ferry Fan]

If fuel prices were a lot cheaper the Irish Sea based HSS 1500's would probably have revamped in a similar way to this, instead they have apparently been listed for sale with a ship brokers:

Couple of things strike me as strange.
1/ Explorer is listed as being built in 1997, when it entered service in 1996.  You'd think the details would have to be correct.
2/ Why did Stena bring back the Explorer earlier this year than last year, when it could equally well have reduced the season even more, before pulling it altogether? If it's going to use the Lynx next year and it used it last year, why use the Explorer at all this year?
3/ Whatever happened to the Discovery?  Did it ever begin a new life in South Amerca?  It's story isn't exactly great PR for a potential HSS1500 buyer.

It would be interesting to see the original business plan for the HSS1500s; it's original estimated lifespan, and passenger estimates compared to reality, albeit due to circumstances that might have been difficult to forsee at the time, eg low cost airlines, removal of duty free, much increased fuel prices etc.  Shame they didn't build a couple more HSS900s instead, which must be similar in size to the IF Swift.  Talking of which, is she holding her own these days?  Presumably doing more business now than ever before with such limited competition from a Stena fastcraft.

[Collision-course]

The HSS has been a resounding success in terms of reliability , service , and comfort , in terms of life expectancy I think Stena originally talked about 35-45 years depending on circumstances.
Passenger numbers are in line with what Stena Line expected , however what has killed the HSS (in Stena Lines eyes anyway) is its fuel consumption , the HSS has turned out to be somewhat of a Concorde in so far as the ships have advanced maratime technology and contributed to extensive reasearch in aquadynamics , but as a commercial concern it is not a runner at todays fuel prices , when the HSS moved from the drawing boards to the model testing stage fuel was $12 a barrel , when the 1st HSS entered service fuel was $18 a barrel , today fuel is $118 a barrel and climbing.
A good comparison would be between Stena Explorer and Stena Europe , the Stena Europe burns 12 tons f fuel every 24 hours , if Stena Explorer were to operate Stena Europes timetable it would burn 96 tons of fuel every 24 hours.
Ulitmatly the HSS's will do well operating in any of the worlds remaining cheap fuel regions , but unless there is a dramatic shift downwards in fuel prices the HSS will become Europes Concorde of the seas.

[ScottMackey]

STENA EXPLORER operating as normal again today after being out of service since Sunday with generator problems...

From 9th to 22nd June she will work 2 return sailings daily to cover for the STENA ADVENTURER's refit at Cammell Laird, Birkenhead;

0855 ex Holyhead - 1125 ex Dun Laoghaire
1400 ex Holyhead - 1630 ex Dun Laoghaire

NORMAN TRADER will be employed to cover for STENA ADVENTURER but will not, it seems, be available for tourist traffic...

[Fast Ferry Fan]

These times seem a bit silly to me, but presumably there are practical reasons.

The 8.55am duplicates the 8.20am from Holyhead.  The 4.30pm duplicates the 4pm from Dublin.  Then there are huge gaps.

It was a bit like in times gone by when the 1345 Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire duplicated the 1430 Holyhead to Dublin and the 2130 Dun Laoghaire to Holyhead duplicated the 2115 Dublin to Holyhead.

[giftgrub]

According to reports on FONE, The former Dublin Seaways now renamed Stena Ferronia, has been charted to DFDS (who Stena bought the ship from) for use on Klaipeda - Karlshamn route alongside the Liverpool Seaways.

""The owner DFDS Seaways announced the launch of the ferry M / V Stena Feronia on
line Klaipeda - Karlshamn. Ferry will replace a smaller unit of m / v Lisco
Patria, which for years supported a ferry connection. Stena Feronia was focused
on the connection between Sweden and Lithuania due to strong demand in the feet
of cargo. Hand in hand with another ferry Liverpool Seaways (formerly in the
colors of the Norfolk line as Liverpool Viking) will handle the connection in
ca³otygodniowym distribution.

Stena Feronia was built in 1997, is 186 m long and reaches a top speed of 19
knots. Previously, the ferry sailed in the colors of the Norfolk line as the
"Dublin Viking" and DFDS as the "Dublin Seaways. Ferry has a long line of cargo
in 1940 I can carry 125 trailers and about 100 trucks and 50 passenger cars. It
has 72 passenger cabins with seating for 320 passengers.

COMMENT: She is now registered in Glasgow, suggesting Northern Marine are
managing agents..."

Image of the Stena Feronia from Vessel Tracker

Interesting video from Stena Ro Ro about the Stena Trader conversion available here:

http://www.stenaroro.com/activities/Pages/StenaTraderShortening.aspx

The Stena Danica has received a different version of the new Stena Line livery, the Curious George character has been included:

[Kieran]

Interesting video from Stena Ro Ro about the Stena Trader conversion available here:

http://www.stenaroro.com/activities/Pages/StenaTraderShortening.aspx

That's really interesting (and well produced). I've never heard of a ship being shortened, fascinating to see how it was done. Good find!

[ScottMackey]

STENA SEAFARER, STENA LEADER and STENA PIONEER have been sold to Russian interests for use during the 2014 Winter Olympic Games which are being held in Sochi on the Black Sea.

It is unclear what they will be used for, perhaps not as ferries and this also means they are now likely to see their 40th Birthdays!

The first ship departs from Belfast on 25th May

[giftgrub]

Interesting picture of Stena's latest purchase on the Kiel canal taken from Shippax.se (on its way to enter service with DFDS)

[giftgrub]

The Stena Lynx III has arrived on the Mersey for its annual overhaul being carried out at Cammell Laird.

Image from:

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/showallphotos.aspx?mmsi=309524000#top_photo

[giftgrub]

The Stena Jutlandica, a close relation to the Rosslare-Pembroke Isle of Inishmore has received its new paintjob and another variation on the Stena Line corporate branding.

http://www.landgangen.se/forumsmf10/index.php?topic=20457.15

[Andrew White]

I see the Stena Fleetwood boats are still in Belfast, when are they due to leave for Russia, thought the first was due to leave on 25th May 2011, any  update.

[ScottMackey]

I see the Stena Fleetwood boats are still in Belfast, when are they due to leave for Russia, thought the first was due to leave on 25th May 2011, any  update.

Still waiting... not sure when they will actually go.
Maybe we'll wake up some morning and they'll be gone.