Stena Line, the Swedish-owned operator, has announced a strategic review of its Irish Sea management team, which will see the region divided into two and the introduction of trade area directors.

The new management structure is aimed at further enhancing its position as a market leader between Ireland and the UK.

The changes are effective June 1, which will see Stena Line revert to a two-region structure on the Irish Sea to reflect its growing business needs. This will involve the Irish Sea region becoming two distinct areas, with Trade Directors responsible for the Irish Sea North and Irish Sea South, respectively.

The move is designed to drive continued growth in the region, where they operate 7 routes, served by 13 ferries among them freight-only vessels, providing 240 sailings each week. This has seen, over recent years, the Irish Sea becoming an increasingly vital component of Stena Line's business, resulting in significant expansion and consolidating its marketshare.

In mid-February, Stena launched the Dublin-Liverpool (Birkenhead) freight route (following P&O’s exit of the central Irish Sea corridor route late last year), which further underscored the company's commitment to providing services across the Irish Sea. It was almost a month ago when the route’s first dedicated ro-ro vessel entered service.

As part of its ongoing development, Stena Line will be reinforcing regional management to effectively address the new opportunities and demands that lie ahead.

Since 2020, Paul Grant and his dedicated regional management team have demonstrated successfully navigating through both Brexit and the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Under their guidance, Stena Line has achieved significant growth, with car volumes increasing by almost 20% and freight volumes by 4%, setting new records for business levels in the region.

The new management structure will see Paul Grant, who has played a pivotal role in the success of the Irish Sea operations, assume responsibility for the newly established Irish Sea North region, overseeing operations from Belfast Harbour. In addition, Paul will join the main board of Stena Line (UK) Ltd. and serve as Stena Line’s representative on the UK Chamber of Shipping Ferry & Cruise.

"The Irish Sea has long been a key market for Stena Line, and I am pleased to continue leading our efforts and growth in our Belfast hub," says Paul Grant, incoming Trade Director for Irish Sea North. "I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead and confident that, with our reinforced management team, we will strengthen Stena Line's position as the foremost ferry operator on the Irish Sea."

Johan Edelman will take up the role of Trade Director for the Irish Sea South region, overseeing operations from Dublin Port and Rosslare Europort. With a focus on development and growth, Johan will work to further enhance Stena Line's presence in the region, building upon the strong foundation laid by his predecessors. Johan is currently the Trade Director for Baltic Sea North, covering the routes between Nynäshamn (Sweden) and Ventspils (Latvia), as well as between Liepāja and Travemünde (Germany).

Commenting on the new role, he said, "I am thrilled to join the team on the Irish Sea and look forward to driving growth and innovation in the Irish Sea South region. Together with Paul and the entire Stena Line team, I am committed to delivering exceptional service and value to our customers while further expanding our market presence."