Stena Horizon, which recently left Stena Line’s newly opened freight-only Dublin-Liverpool (Birkenhead) route for annual dry-docking, had completed a previous career on this date a decade ago with an Irish ferry company, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Operating albeit in freight mode, the 27,522-tonne Stena Horizon in mid-February launched the Ireland-England corridor route following P&O Ferries’ withdrawal of their service last year but was based out of Liverpool docks. The 186.5-metre ropax, however, was only a temporary measure until a more suitable dedicated freight ship could be sourced, which led to the MV Bore Song, which Stena has secured as the route’s permanent vessel, but not until it enters in mid-April.

In the meantime, as Stena Horizon is dry-docked at A&P Falmouth, Cornwall, a fleetmate ropax, Stena Nordica (which has yet to return to Rosslare-Fishguard; see story), took over the Liffey-Merseyside route. This releasing the Cantiere Navale di Visentini shipyard in Italy built Stena Line ropax, which previously named Celtic Horizon, on 31 March, 2014, Afloat reported of it completing a final ever round trip on the Rosslare-Cherbourg route for Celtic Link Ferries, based out of the ‘Europort’ in Co. Wexford.

This end-of-an era English Channel / Celtic Sea crossing of Celtic Horizon was under the command of Captain Richard Collins and his 50 crew (see related: 'A View from the Bridge' having previously interviewed for ‘Ships Monthly’ and printed in the February issue the year before.

On that final day in March, a decade ago, when disembarking as a foot passenger, a senior Celtic Link Ferries official informed me that the paperwork to transfer the business was been finalised with Stena Line. The large Swedish company that was acquiring the Irish company would then commence operations the next day, 1 April.

The origins of Celtic Link Ferries are local, as the owners, the O’Flaherty Brothers, have a large trawler fleet and the Saltees Fish processing plant in Kilmore Quay. However, when the Ireland-France route’s previous operator, P&O Ferries, announced its closure in 2004, this posed a major challenge in their supply chain to exporting fish products to markets, particularly in France, Spain, and Italy.

At that time, Rosslare Europort did not have the choice and frequency of services (with only Irish Ferries) to mainland Europe, as experienced currently with the Brexit-bypass boom, so this led the O’Flaherty Brothers and investors to acquire the P&O route along with their ro-ro freight ferry, European Diplomat, which was simply renamed Diplomat for the new operator, Celtic Link Ferries. The fledging company in 2005 reinstated the passenger/freight link but would also add, over the years, freight-only routes on the central Irish Sea and English Channel using chartered tonnage.

The 1978-built Diplomat with limited passenger facilities was ageing and was replaced in the form of another Visentini-built ropax, the Norman Voyager, which was sub-chartered from LD Lines. The French ferry subsidiary of Louis Dreyfus had originally operated on their Rosslare-Le Havre route after a long absence from when Irish Ferries served this route.

With the passage of time, Norman Voyager headed off service for a career with Brittany Ferries, which ultimately led to the third and final ferry of the company, Celtic Horizon, on a five-year charter from the Italian shipyard owners to Celtic Link. The ropax entered service in 2011 and became the first and only vessel during the ferry company’s’ history to be given a name reflecting its brand name and also to be displayed on the funnel, as the previous vessels just had the initials ‘C L’.

The Italian flagged vessel with the Adriatic port of Bari as its registry is retained with Stena, which, following its transfer of the ‘no frills’ ropax, received an overhaul and refurbishment upgrade to bring the ferry to higher standards as expected by the large operator. This was the first time for Stena to have a route between Ireland and mainland Europe, complementing its network on the Irish Sea, the North Sea, and Scandinavia.

Last weekend Stena Horizon arrived at the A&P Falmouth and is to remain in dry dock until resuming Rosslare-Cherbourg service on 9 April, re-joining Stena Vision. The much larger cruise-ferry, which has exclusively spent a career solely in Scandinavia and the Baltic Sea since being built in 1987, made its debut on the French connection less than a year ago.

Since its introduction in June, the cruise ferry has considerably boosted business, having attracted customers and given its extensive range of facilities and cabin choices compared to the ropax.

A mother and daughter were hospitalised after going overboard from a ferry in Belfast Lough on Thursday evening (25 February).

As BBC News reports, the pair were rescued from the water by emergency response crews from the Stena Horizon and another Stena vessel nearby.

It is not yet known how the woman and her child — an 11-year-old girl — came to enter the water, and Belfast Harbour Police said they are investigating the incident.

#FerryNews - As Afloat reported yesterday, ropax Stena Horizon starts Dublin-Holyhead sailings tonight to enable a fleemate to be drydocked, however additional freight-only capacity is already in place, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The larger of the two routine ferries on the Wales route, Stena Adventurer leaves for annual maintenance overhaul in A&P Falmouth where Stena Horizon recently underwent similar work. The ropax will cover the roster of this ferry tonight, 6 March 20.40hrs to 20 March 02.30hrs inclusively.

The Stena Horizon normally operates the Rosslare-Cherbourg service, see story. Passenger capacity is for 900 and vehicles totals are 160 for cars and 135 lorries respectively. 

Already operating on the Dublin route since late last month is ro-ro freight ferry Arrow which will continue to serve during the absence of Stena Adventurer. No doubt this boost to freight capacity was welcomed given the impacts caused to road hauliers during the severe weather dubbed the 'Beast from the East' coupled with Storm Emma.

The 65 freight trailer unit capacity Arrow sails on crossings from Dublin at 06:00hrs daily (excl. Sun) having previously sailed overnight from Holyhead at 22:30hrs daily (excl. Sat). During the day, Arrow has layed over in Holyhead. 

With the Arrow in service this brings to three ships operating, as the route's second ferry is Stena Superfast X. This ferry given its size is better matched to the 'Adventurer' hence the necessity to have two relief ships deployed to cover the dry-docking period.

Arrow is owned by Seatruck Ferries but is chartered to the Isle of Man Steam Packet which use the 122m vessel as a relief ferry at peak times to assist capacity with ropax Ben-My-Chree on the Douglas-Heysham route.  

In addition Arrow provides backup due to technical breakdowns or severe weather by making up shortfalls through added sailings.

Over the years Afloat has reported on Arrow's career that has seen the Steam Packet sub-charter the Irish Sea freightferry to Condor Ferries UK-Channel Islands operations.

#FerryNews - Fresh from a Falmouth dry-docking, Stena Horizon arrived in Dublin Port today, not Rosslare from where the ropax routinely operates on the France route to Cherbourg, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The reason for the call to the capital of the Stena Line ferry which recieved a refit at A&P Falmouth, is to facilitate further annual dry-docking cover of fleetmates. This will see Stena Horizon operate on the Dublin-Holyhead route.

Operating on this route is Stena Adventurer which will be replaced by Stena Horizon from tomorrow, 6 March 20.40hrs to 20 March 02.30hrs inclusive.

As the Stena Horizon is of a 'ropax' design (more freight orientated) compared to the 'Adventurer' there will be some reduction in facilities, products and services during this time on the Dublin-Holyhead route.

Also maintaining service as usual on the central Irish Sea route is the Stena Superfast X which was introduced in 2015.

As previously reported on Afloat, while Stena Horizon is off service on the Ireland-France route, a freight-only ship Stena Carrier is operating. The vessel is providing an important role in the export of livestock to the mainland continent until the 'Horizon's return is scheduled for 20 March.with the 21.30hrs sailing to France.  

Stena Europe also fresh from overhaul in Falmouth, returned to resume Rosslare-Fishguard services. 

For several days last month all Stena Line services to Wales and France were not operating 'passenger' sailings. On the Fishguard route, while Stena Europe was in Cornwall, customers were instead transferred onto a replacement ferry. This was in the form of rivals Irish Ferries whose Isle of Inishmore (see ferry focus) serves on the Rosslare-Pembroke route.

#StenaHorizon – Northern Marine Management, part of the Stena Group, which earlier this year formed a separate ship management division for their Irish Sea fleet will be incorporating the former Celtic Link ro-pax Celtic Horizon, which was handed over today, writes Jehan Ashmore.

As previously reported, the Stena Line acquisition of Celtic Link Ferries will see the new ferry division, Northern Marine Ferries, bring the Italian flagged and built 27,555 tonnes vessel to be renamed Stena Horizon into the fold of the company's fleet.  The Visentini built 940-passenger / 200-car/ 130-truck vessel will continue to operate the year-round Rosslare-Cherbourg service. Her first sailing is tomorrow from Irish port.

The Wexford port is also where Stena Europe serves Fishguard and the introduction of the French route newcomer represents an important milestone for the history of Stena Line of more than 50 years. This is the first time Stena will be able offer a direct Ireland-continent link.

The route's previous owners, Celtic Link in late 2011 chartered Celtic Horizon, on a five-year term charter from her shipbuilders Visentini outside Venice, where she was launched in 2005. She belongs to a very successful design of fast ro-pax vessels to be found employed in most European waters.

They are primarily for transporting freight ro-ro units and with up to 1,000 passenger capacity in limited facilities compared to conventional and cruiseferry style services. However, Stena Line invested in a £4m upgrade to improve passenger and truck-driver facilities of their slightly larger Visentini built sisters, Stena Lagan and Stena Mersey on the Belfast-Birkenhead (Liverpool) route.