The Stena Nordica, which has been operating in the Baltic Sea, is a familiar ship on the Irish Sea having started life on, and provided relief cover on several Irish Sea routes over the last few years. It is scheduled to replace the older Stena Europe vessel in July.
Stena Nordica is currently undergoing refit work in Poland to bring her to the same standard as her Irish Sea fleet mates, including the addition of a new accommodation block to the area previously occupied by the helideck. She is also recieving a new Stena Plus lounge, two cinemas, and a Hygge reclining seat lounge.
Stena Nordica was built in 2000 for P&O Irish Sea as the European Ambassador for their Dublin-Liverpool and (now closed) Dublin-Mostyn routes. She joined Stena Line 2004, sailing from Dublin to Holyhead as well as Rosslare to Cherbourge, before stints with DFDS in Dover, and GNAV, before a return to Stena for services in the Baltic and refit cover.
Stena Europe was built in 1981 as Kronprinsessan Victoria for Sessan Line, which Stena Line acquired the same year. She started life on the Baltic Sea, before transfer to the North Sea in 1994, when she was renamed Stena Europe. After a brief stint as Lion Europe in 1998, she reverted to the name Stena Europe in 1999. She arrived in Rosslare in 2001 when Stena Line replaced the Koningin Beatrix in Rosslare.
