#DryDockings - Belfast-Cairnryan sailings covered by Stena Nordica, as previously reported will remain to the end of this month, when North Channel Superfast sisters VII and VIII each take turns to dry-dock, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Following the overhauls taken place in Harland & Wolff, Nordica, recently replaced by Dublin-Holyhead newcomer Superfast X will be chartered to DFDS Seaways to take up service on the premier Dover-Calais route.

Before she heads south, the name Stena 'Nordica' also applied to a previous ferry in the late 1960's that Stena chartered to Sealink /British Rail's Larne-Stranraer route. This charter ended almost 44 years ago on the 27 March 1971 when a new vehicle car ramp was installed at Stranraer.

It is somewhat full circle given that the Swedish ferry giant is very much a player on the present day Belfast-Cairnryan service having switched Scottish port to a new custom built terminal at Loch Ryan Port in 2011. 

The ro-pax Nordica with capacity for 405 passengers has vehicle deck space for 375 cars / 122 trailers, was originally with P&O Ferries running on the Irish Sea as well as a weekend operated Dublin-Cherbourg service. She had spells in Scandinavia for Stena before returning to the Irish Sea to partner Stena Adventurer on the Dublin route. 

On this new career, she is to partner Calais Seaways to boost much needed capacity on the premier short-sea service. The newcomer will follow the route's previous second ship, Dieppe Seaways, (now Superfast X) which Stena had also chartered to DFDS until a two-year charter expired last year.

Calais Seaways is the stalwart of Strait of Dover. Originally she served Dover-Ostend service when launched as Prins Filip, the flagship of Belgian state operator RTM back in 1991.