Stena Line fleet movements

[Chief]

Will a photograph be taken of Superfast X on its way to Dublin as it passes Superfasts VII & VIII as they cross between Belfast and Cairnryan? It should not be too difficult to organise and it might be quite spectacular.

[Steven]

Stena Adventurer not listed on Dublin Port movements from 28th February to 2nd March. Is she due annual overhaul then? She is still listed as  sailing on Stena web site at this time

There are no plans for Adventurer to refit between those dates.

Will a photograph be taken of Superfast X on its way to Dublin as it passes Superfasts VII & VIII as they cross between Belfast and Cairnryan? It should not be too difficult to organise and it might be quite spectacular.

Nobody seems to know yet.  If it does happen, it is likely to happen mid-channel, and will very much depend on timings/Superfast X's progress towards Holyhead.  Stena Superfast X's current ETA of 5:30 suggests that if she does pass her sisters mid-channel, it will be at night!

[Steven]

I'm led to believe Stena Nordica is expected to be in Belfast by the end of next week, meaning Stena Superfast X should be in service by then if everything goes according to plan.  This would give her about a week to settle in before her official launch, and about a week for all the pre-service stuff such as taking on stores, crew familiarisation, drills, etc. 

[Steven]

Will a photograph be taken of Superfast X on its way to Dublin as it passes Superfasts VII & VIII as they cross between Belfast and Cairnryan? It should not be too difficult to organise and it might be quite spectacular.

Didn't happen, it was dark.  X almost met VII though.  Stena will just have to use photoshop instead if they want a group publicity pic!

[IFPete]

What is the difference in the upper deck hight on Superfast X and Vii and VIII

[LiverpoolIrishLiam]

Does anybody have any pictures of Stena Superfast X at Holyhead?

[Davy Jones]

Looking at the AIS tracking, it appears that she didn't know where Holyhead was. Looked like she was heading for the lower corridor at first (perhaps thought she was replacing Stena Europe instead), then she did an about turn and set off in the direction of Liverpool! :-\

In reality, she was obviously killing time until Stena Nordica vacated Terminal 5, where she is now berthed.

Presumably she will be off to Dublin at some point for berthing trials.

[mrwt.nsf]

Yeah it does look that doesn't it :). She's now done some berthing trials at Berth 5 and has now moved to the old Aluminium loading berth to lay over. Probably head over to Dublin in the next few days.

[Steven]

What is the difference in the upper deck hight on Superfast X and Vii and VIII

They have an extra 35cm free height in the central 4 lanes of the upper vehicle deck.  See my website for details of how this was achieved ;)

http://www.niferrysite.co.uk/?p=9

SSF X doesn't need this raised height, as the law in Ireland doesn't allow for trailers that high!

Looking at the AIS tracking, it appears that she didn't know where Holyhead was. Looked like she was heading for the lower corridor at first (perhaps thought she was replacing Stena Europe instead), then she did an about turn and set off in the direction of Liverpool! :-\

In reality, she was obviously killing time until Stena Nordica vacated Terminal 5, where she is now berthed.

Presumably she will be off to Dublin at some point for berthing trials.

Stena Superfast X will do crew training/familiarisation, then MCA and joint EU drills at Holyhead over the next few days before she does anything else. 

[IFPete]

Thanks Stephen, very interesting article, I note the comment about the Double height trucks. They actually travel on the roads down here but are not allowed in port tunnel. 

[Ajmadden123]

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/business/stena-lines-superfast-x-sails-8727913

Some pictures of the Superfast X in Holyhead this morning.

[Steven]

Thanks Stephen, very interesting article, I note the comment about the Double height trucks. They actually travel on the roads down here but are not allowed in port tunnel.

Apparently if they are over 4.65m high, not any more.

http://www.dttas.ie/press-releases/2013/maximum-vehicle-heights-change-november-1st

http://www.internationaltransportforum.org/IntOrg/road/pdf/dimensions.pdf

[cosseric.coss]

Do Stena not make any announcements other than safety announcement? I went to Fishguard on the Europe lasr week and they made no announcement to thank you for sailing with stena line and they made no announcements on arrival either rosslare or Fishguard.  We were not told to ruturn to our vehicles in port. We were apparently to know when to go down ourselves? Irish ferries always make announcements. Are stena always like this?

[giftgrub]

Do Stena not make any announcements other than safety announcement? I went to Fishguard on the Europe lasr week and they made no announcement to thank you for sailing with stena line and they made no announcements on arrival either rosslare or Fishguard.  We were not told to ruturn to our vehicles in port. We were apparently to know when to go down ourselves? Irish ferries always make announcements. Are stena always like this?

Normally lots of announcements alerting to opening of shops, newspapers available, cinema showings, dinner available, breakfast being served etc and normally plenty of instructions as to when to head to car deck etc, might have been a fault with the speaker system.

[Steven]

Do Stena not make any announcements other than safety announcement? I went to Fishguard on the Europe lasr week and they made no announcement to thank you for sailing with stena line and they made no announcements on arrival either rosslare or Fishguard.  We were not told to ruturn to our vehicles in port. We were apparently to know when to go down ourselves? Irish ferries always make announcements. Are stena always like this?

Normally lots of announcements alerting to opening of shops, newspapers available, cinema showings, dinner available, breakfast being served etc and normally plenty of instructions as to when to head to car deck etc, might have been a fault with the speaker system.

This.  Plus up here we get the ladies coming around to try and sell us Spa treatments as well :P.  Sounds very strange, as its in their interests to make the car deck and foot passenger announcements for the sake of turnaround times and health and safety!