Stena Line fleet movements

[Davy Jones]

Probably the same reason that SFX has been doing the same around Dublin Bay - either there are no safe berths available or it's too rough to attempt berthing

It seems that Dublin full of vessels sheltering from the conditions. The P&O ships seem to be sailing, as is the Stena Belfast-Liverpool run. Epsilon nearly got caught out again last night. She's currently being held against the berth by a tug in Cherbourg.

[giftgrub]

Rosslare could be renamed Stenaport this morning with Horizon Nordica and Europe all in port with sailings cancelled for Europe due to winds. Expect some nice images will appear on the Facebook.

[RorieLen]

Superfast VIII been circling at the mouth of Belfast Lough for 12 hours, wonder why she sailed at all.

Her sailings were cancelled so I assume she had to get off the berth as it may be safer to be sheltering at sea rather than risk damage alongside. She will not have any passengers onboard.

[RorieLen]

Probably the same reason that SFX has been doing the same around Dublin Bay - either there are no safe berths available or it's too rough to attempt berthing

It seems that Dublin full of vessels sheltering from the conditions. The P&O ships seem to be sailing, as is the Stena Belfast-Liverpool run. Epsilon nearly got caught out again last night. She's currently being held against the berth by a tug in Cherbourg.

Similarly Superfast X's sailings were showing on Ferrycheck as cancelled so she is likely sheltering in the bay as there are no free berths or it may be deemed safer.

[smallboatowner]

Probably the same reason that SFX has been doing the same around Dublin Bay - either there are no safe berths available or it's too rough to attempt berthing

It seems that Dublin full of vessels sheltering from the conditions. The P&O ships seem to be sailing, as is the Stena Belfast-Liverpool run. Epsilon nearly got caught out again last night. She's currently being held against the berth by a tug in Cherbourg.

Similarly Superfast X's sailings were showing on Ferrycheck as cancelled so she is likely sheltering in the bay as there are no free berths or it may be deemed safer.

I'm told she sailed from Cairnryan yesterday evening but was unable to berth in Belfast due to strong northerlies at around 10.00pm . She has recently docked at her berth in Belfast as the winds have eased quite a bit.

[RorieLen]

She berthed last night and discharged before leaving the berth for shelter in the Lough.

She had no passengers onboard during the night.

[smallboatowner]

She berthed last night and discharged before leaving the berth for shelter in the Lough.

She had no passengers onboard during the night.

You're correct. my source was wrong. VT4 is very exposed in those conditions. Svitzer Surrey is assisting her at present.

[giftgrub]

Nordica takes over from Superfast X tonight, over next six weeks the three Superfasts will visit H&W for refit, all covered by Nordica.

Cool drone footage  of Europe and Nordica In Rosslare on this link

https://youtu.be/c2H0ZHGspOM

[jgf]

Nordica took 4.5hours to turn around sailings in Holyhead this morning. It takes a bit of time to refamiliarise  with things I  suppose.


Horizon docked in Rosslare around 8am after its delayed weekend sailing to Cherbourg.

[ferryfan]

Reuters reporting that Stena Line are considering re-registering their UK fleet
"In the light of the Brexit process we are considering whether the UK flag can become a possible issue for us when it no longer will be an EU flag post the 29th March 2019, but we have taken no decisions and are reviewing different scenarios," said Ian Hampton, chief people & communications officer with Stena Line.

[TC]

Sounds like Stena are following P&O's lead.

"In advance of Britain leaving the European Union on March 29 2019, we undertook a review of the flag status of our ships on the English Channel...  For operational and accounting reasons, we have concluded that the best course of action is to reflag all ships to be under the Cyprus flag....  We have no plans to make any other changes, including the terms and conditions of any of our seafarers, as a result of the new arrangements."  -   P&O Ferries

[giftgrub]

Reported on the Facebook this evening that Stena Forerunner is to be replaced by a Stena Forecaster on Belfast Birkenhead route next week.

Reports last year stated Forecaster had been sold by Stena RoRo, surprisingly it has been purchased by Stena Line, so it should be around for a few years now.

https://youtu.be/OHGaUFXANtc

It has been on Airbus related transatlantic work, so would imagine some time on regular short sea work will be quite a change for the ship.

Also Stena Foreteller might have been purchased by Stena Line, but no updates yet.

[giftgrub]

Stena Forecaster on the way to  Birkenhead due Saturday morning, will replace Forerunner on Belfast service as previously mentioned.

[jgf]

Adventurer is sailing tonight but Nordica cancelled. Europe has been cancelled all day.
Horizon sailed from Cherbourg tonight wheres Oscar Wilde is  waiting until the morning to set off.

[giftgrub]

Refit updates here

https://www.niferry.co.uk/belfast-farewell-stena-forerunner-welcoming-stena-forecaster-and-stena-nordica/?fbclid=IwAR3WprrUk-2xW33vhNgIoaMjtKS3HEcsptKrdsEor_Ho4Qkv2vhMIckhQno

Forecaster is off the coast of Liverpool waiting to enter port in the morning.

Apparently Stena Nordica crew have European Tour T Shirts with their refit dates showing Fishguard-Rosslare 8th March - 30 May, which given there has been no official announcement yet is the biggest indicator that Stena Europe will be going for its mega refit.