Stena Line to replace vessel on the Fishguard - Rosslare route.

[james60059]

Seeing some posters on the forum (me included) travel between Fishguard and Rosslare using Rail and Sail, Stena Line are replacing the Stena Europe with the Stena Nordica. The latter currently undergoing refit in Poland.

https://www.niferry.co.uk/stena-line-announces-new-fishguard-rosslare-ferry/

Passenger favourite STENA EUROPE is to be replaced on the Rosslare – Fishguard route this summer. The veteran ferry, which was delivered in 1981, and has been at Fishguard since 2002, is currently undergoing maintenance at Cammell- Laird in Birkenhead. STENA EUROPE is to be replaced by the STENA NORDICA, a vessel which has regularly operated on the Irish Sea in the past. The latter is currently undergoing rebuilding in Poland to make her more suitable for her new Irish Sea role.

 

[gabrielhj07]

It's a shame to see Stena Europe go, had many enjoyable journeys on her.

 

[Trainbike46]

Seeing some posters on the forum (me included) travel between Fishguard and Rosslare using Rail and Sail, Stena Line are replacing the Stena Europe with the Stena Nordica. The latter currently undergoing refit in Poland.

https://www.niferry.co.uk/stena-line-announces-new-fishguard-rosslare-ferry/

based on what I can find, the new ship will be a bit smaller than the old one - is that right?

does anyone know what will happen with the Stena Europe after it leaves?

 

[BayPaul]

based on what I can find, the new ship will be a bit smaller than the old one - is that right?

does anyone know what will happen with the Stena Europe after it leaves?

Apparently her passenger capacity will be sufficient to accommodate all passenger bookings on 99% of sailings, which seems reasonable. Stena Nordica's freight capacity is significantly bigger than that of the Stena Europe she replaces. Her berth capacity is smaller, but 200 berths doesn't sound ridiculous for a 3.5 hour route. She should be a very suitable ship for the route, especially as Stena are very good at refits and accommodation design at the moment.

At 42 years old, Stena Europe is an old lady and will quite possibly go for scrap, but she's been well looked after, and has a good capacity and layout, so she may find a home in the Eastern Med or similar.

 

[185143]

I sailed on the Stena Nordica last year from Dublin to Holyhead.

All I can say is they'd better do a stunning job with the refit!

Nordica was covering for the beautiful Stena Estrid, which was in dry Dock. Being a European based ship, the plug sockets were all European style, Polish football was being shown and the duty free shop is tiny, and was packed for the whole short time it was actually open. And the bar only sold bottled beer, no draught stuff at all. No pints on a (very full!) Ferry full of Irish people isn't ideal! the ship is much smaller than Stena Estrid or Stena Adventurer, so seemed very crowded. Was quite glad to Dock on that crossing!

Back to Stena Europe, only sailed on it twice. The first time was just after restrictions lifted, and the first time I'd left the UK since pre Covid. So it'll always be significant to me for that. The second was shortly before the recent fire (as an aside, I'd have been onboard that crossing if I was off that weekend...) and I was rather well *ahem* refreshed. Good fun was had, but it's clearly an old ship. Then again, modern and new aren't words I'd use to describe Stena Nordica either.

 

[james60059]

based on what I can find, the new ship will be a bit smaller than the old one - is that right?

IIRC, I believe the Stena Nordica is slightly longer, but not as tall as the Stena Europe.

 

[Trainbike46]

I sailed on the Stena Nordica last year from Dublin to Holyhead.

All I can say is they'd better do a stunning job with the refit!

Nordica was covering for the beautiful Stena Estrid, which was in dry Dock. Being a European based ship, the plug sockets were all European style, Polish football was being shown and the duty free shop is tiny, and was packed for the whole short time it was actually open. And the bar only sold bottled beer, no draught stuff at all. No pints on a (very full!) Ferry full of Irish people isn't ideal! the ship is much smaller than Stena Estrid or Stena Adventurer, so seemed very crowded. Was quite glad to Dock on that crossing!

Back to Stena Europe, only sailed on it twice. The first time was just after restrictions lifted, and the first time I'd left the UK since pre Covid. So it'll always be significant to me for that. The second was shortly before the recent fire (as an aside, I'd have been onboard that crossing if I was off that weekend...) and I was rather well *ahem* refreshed. Good fun was had, but it's clearly an old ship. Then again, modern and new aren't words I'd use to describe Stena Nordica either.

The refit suggested in the article quoted by topic starter is quite extensive - it even includes turning the helipad in a stena plus lounge.

And of course, Fishguard-Rosslare is quite a bit quieter than Holyhead-Dublin!

IIRC, I believe the Stena Nordica is slightly longer, but not as tall as the Stena Europe.

Apparently her passenger capacity will be sufficient to accommodate all passenger bookings on 99% of sailings, which seems reasonable. Stena Nordica's freight capacity is significantly bigger than that of the Stena Europe she replaces. Her berth capacity is smaller, but 200 berths doesn't sound ridiculous for a 3.5 hour route. She should be a very suitable ship for the route, especially as Stena are very good at refits and accommodation design at the moment.

At 42 years old, Stena Europe is an old lady and will quite possibly go for scrap, but she's been well looked after, and has a good capacity and layout, so she may find a home in the Eastern Med or similar.

Thanks for clarifying, that makes sense!

 

[185143]

The refit suggested in the article quoted by topic starter is quite extensive - it even includes turning the helipad in a stena plus lounge.

And of course, Fishguard-Rosslare is quite a bit quieter than Holyhead-Dublin!



Thanks for clarifying, that makes sense!

Well that's true, though my last crossing from Holyhead to Dublin was very quiet!

 

[43055]

based on what I can find, the new ship will be a bit smaller than the old one - is that right?

does anyone know what will happen with the Stena Europe after it leaves?

Stena Europe:
149m x 26m
24828GT
1400 passengers
1120 lane meters/480 cars

Stena Nordica:
170m x 26m
24206GT
430 passengers
1949 lane meters/375 cars

Info from these links:

Stena Europe | Stena Line [Archived] - niferry.co.uk - News and Information Ferry Site

Stena Line's Stena Europe is a Swedish-built multipurpose ferry which normally serves the route between Fishguard and Rosslare.

www.niferry.co.uk

A look inside: Stena Line's Irish Sea Refit cover ship, Stena Nordica - niferry.co.uk

STENA NORDICA is providing refit cover for Stena Line's Irish Sea fleet. In this feature, we take a look inside the vessel.

www.niferry.co.uk

I would say they are broadly similar apart from the existing passenger numbers which is what Stena is tackling before the Nordica arrives.

Here is an image from another fourm showing the new area on deck 6 being added by the looks of things.

Stena Nordica ex- European Ambassador (IMO 9215505) - The Ferry Forums

Stena Nordica made a few round trips from Rosslare to Cherbourg this week, with a convenient arrival in Cherbourg on Saturday afternoon for me to go there an…

theferryforums.com

 

[43055]

The Stena Nordica has now finished in dry dock and seems to be in service on the Belfast to Cairnryan route covering for one of the Superfast's.

 

[Flying Snail]

It looks like Nordica is due to take over Rosslare Fishguard at the beginning of July.

They also have a timetable change listed for then with the sailings running 1h-1h45 later than current times which would require re-timing of the connecting TfW trains.

Irish Ferries have also announced a replacement ship for their Rosslare - Pembroke route, the much larger and more luxurious Tallink Star.

 

[DaventryRabbit]

The refit suggested in the article quoted by topic starter is quite extensive - it even includes turning the helipad in a stena plus lounge.

And of course, Fishguard-Rosslare is quite a bit quieter than Holyhead-Dublin!



Thanks for clarifying, that makes sense!

The only occasion I travelled from Pembroke to Rosslare was in 2013 and the number of Crew outnumbered the number of Passengers!
And that was in Peak Holiday Season...

 

[berneyarms]

Stena Line is changing the timetable on the route when the new ferry arrives in July with the result that the rail connections at Rosslare will all be redundant, and the night time rail connection at Fishguard will be missed too.

 

[Trainbike46]

Stena Line is changing the timetable on the route when the new ferry arrives in July with the result that the rail connections at Rosslare will all be redundant, and the night time rail connection at Fishguard will be missed too.

Couldn't/won't TfW change the train times to match the new ferry times?

 

[berneyarms]

Couldn't/won't TfW change the train times to match the new ferry times?

We shall have to wait and see.