Stena Line has announced that Stena Embla, the last of three new Irish Sea ferries, has successfully completed its sea trials in China’s Yellow Sea.
Stena Embla is the latest new Stena Line next generation RoPax vessel that is being constructed at the CMI Jingling Weihai Shipyard in China, marking the end of significant recent investment on the Irish Sea by the Swedish company. The global pandemic did not delay the build of the vessel, which is being delivered on schedule.
The new ferries are 25% more fuel-efficient than existing vessels and at 215 metres larger than today’s standard RoPax vessels, providing 30% more freight capacity with 3,100 lane meters.
They also have the space to carry 120 cars and 1,000 passengers and crew. The ability to load two vehicle decks simultaneously reduces loading and unloading times, resulting in quicker turnaround times in ports.
The interior design meets Covid-19 requirements for social distancing.
The new vessel replaces the Stena Mersey, which has operated on the Belfast to Birkenhead route for 10 years. The Mersey will join sister ship Stena Lagan in Turkey where both ships are being extended, before re-deployment on the Baltic Sea.
