#Bigferries – Stena Britannica of 65,000 tonnes along with a sister are the largest cruiseferries in tonnage terms to serve in UK waters, however the giant North Sea ferry is off service for an unscheduled dry-docking, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The German built ferry completed in 2010 has been undergoing sea trials off the Dutch coast this morning.

According to the Stena Line, there will be no departures by Stena Britannica on the UK-Dutch route until the ferry returns to service later today, Monday, 1st February. The first sailing departs Hoek van Holland tonight at 22.00hrs. In the meantime sailings continue to operate by sister Stena Hollandica, for further information click, here.

The sisters are also the largest of the Stena Line Group fleet of around 35 ships serving 23 routes in the UK, Republic of Ireland, Scandinavia and the Baltics. In addition the extensive route network links key ports and road and rail connections across Europe and Russia.

Listed below is information on the Stena pair along with the remaining giant cruiseferries that make up the five largest such ships operating in UK waters, among them Irish Ferries, flagship, Ulysses.

The top five largest cruiseferries in UK Waters

Stena Britannica, built: 2010; tonnage: 64,600; length: 240.0m; passengers: 1,200; cars: 230; trailers: 300; flag: UK

Stena Hollandica, built: 2010; tonnage: 63,600; length: 240.0m; passengers: 1,200; cars: 230; trailers: 300; flag: Netherlands

Pride of Hull, built: 2001; tonnage: 59,925; length: 215.4m; passengers: 1,360; cars: 205; trailers: 263; flag: Bahamas

Pride of Rotterdam, built: 2000; tonnage: 59,925; length: 215.4m; passengers: 1,360; cars: 205; trailers: 263; flag: Netherlands

Ulysses, built: 2001; tonnage: 50,938; length: 209.0m; passengers: 1,875, cars: 1,342; trailers: 300; flag: Cyprus

Afloat previously reported on P&O Ferries giant cruiseferries that also operate a North Sea service on the Hull-Rotterdam route, the 59,925 tonne sisters Pride of Hull and Pride of Rotterdam. In early January, P&O announced an 11% year-on-year increase in HGVs crossings on this Dutch service.

This leaves the ‘smallest’ giant, as previously referred Irish Ferries Ulysses, the largest ferry on the Irish Sea that returned on the Dublin-Holyhead route following an overhaul at A&P Falmouth.

Ulysses is in the 15th year of operating the Ireland-Wales link since the Aker Finnyards built cruiseferry was ordered for Irish Continental Group’s (ICG)’s ferry division.

The then newbuild replaced the 34,071 tonnes Isle of Inishmore, which this weekend completed drydocking overhaul at Cammell Laird, Birkenhead. The cruiseferry at the weekend made an en route call to Dublin Port where she remains prior to resuming duties on the Rosslare-Pembroke route.