In recognition of 30 years of service on their Dublin-Holyhead route, Stena Line marked the occasion with a special celebration held at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, writes Jehan Ashmore.
The evening event on Wednesday was a partnership between Stena Line, the Swedish Embassy in Dublin, and Business Sweden, which brought together Irish government officials and business leaders from the Nordic state, in addition to trade, tourism, transport, and investment promotion organisations for a high-level business roundtable. This enabled discussions on transport sustainability, trade and resilience, investment in infrastructure, and plans for the future.
Co-hosting the event were the Swedish Ambassador to Ireland, H.E. Ms. Lina van der Weyden; the Swedish Trade and Invest Commissioner to Ireland, Gustaf Bergström; and Business Sweden, and it was facilitated by Liam Lacey, Director of the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO).
It was an opportunity for key figures from both nations to reflect on three decades of one of the most important Irish Sea connections between Ireland and the UK. The service, established in 1995, began with its first vessel, the freight-only Stena Traveller, and has since progressed into passenger/freight operations currently served by two ferries, the Stena Adventurer and Stena Estrid. The operator continues to lead in sustainability, with a target to reduce CO₂ emissions by 30% by 2030.
The event, set in one of Dublin’s most iconic heritage and tourism venues, not only celebrated Stena Line’s milestone but also the vital role this central Irish Sea route has played in strengthening links between Ireland and Wales over the past three decades.
