#FerryDryDocking – Stena Europe (1981/24,828grt), the Rosslare-Fishguard ferry is this morning bound for Belfast, where she is to be given an annual overhaul in a dry-dock at Harland & Wolff, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The operator, Stena Line have taken the 'Europe' off-service on the southern Ireland-Wales route until the dry-docking is scheduled to be completed on 18 February.

An alternative replacement service with Irish Ferries is available on the Rosslare-Pembroke Dock. Passengers with bookings for Stena Line are advised to contact the operator on 053 91 61567 if they haven't already done so, for further details visit HERE.

According to the Stena website, the first sailing after the replacement service will be the 02.30 Fishguard – Rosslare on 18 February.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, Irish Ferries transferred yesterday the Isle of Inishmore to the Rosslare-Pembroke, her routine route and follows almost two months service on the Dublin-Holyhead route.

During Isle of Inishmore's second month on the Dublin route in January, she was off-service to undergo overhaul at Cammell Laird, Birkenhead.

Her return brings her fresh into service, as she has already completed an overnight round trip on the Pembroke route.

#RouteClosure - Stena Line has confirmed today a consolidation of its services from Holyhead to Dublin Port. This will see the closure of the neighbouring historic ferry service from the Welsh port to Dun Laoghaire Harbour. 

The company stated that it will be concentrating on expanding its existing ferry service at Dublin Port while at the same time confirming amid much speculation as previously reported on Afloat.ie that it is withdrawing its HSS Stena Explorer service from Dun Laoghaire Harbour. 

There has been a ferry service on this Irish Sea route for 170 years (since 1835).

Stena Line ceased the HSS fast-ferry operated summer season sailings as scheduled last September. However as previously reported, in November the operator made a surprise announcment in the cancellation of sailings over the Christmas and early New Year season.  

Ian Davies, Stena Line's Route Manager for Irish Sea South, said: "With two services operating approx. 10 miles apart we needed to make a decision in relation to what operation best serves the needs of our customers now and in the years ahead, and that operation is Dublin Port."

Stena Line has operated the HSS Stena Explorer into Dun Laoghaire since 1995 during which time the vessel has carried a mix of passengers, car and coach traffic. The Dun Laoghaire service was successful for several years following its introduction, carrying over 1.7 million passengers annually during its peak in 1998.

However, post the withdrawal of 'duty free' shopping, passenger and cars volumes declined dramatically and by 2014, less than 200,000 ferry passengers travelled through Dun Laoghaire Harbour. This represented a decline of over 90% in volume, making the route unsustainable.

During the same time period Stena Line has continued to make significant investment in larger better equipped vessels, and this, coupled with key improvements in road infrastructure and connectivity to Dublin, Belfast and further afield, has led to a significant uplift in both passenger and freight volumes through its evolving Dublin Port business.

Car and passenger volumes into Dublin Port overtook Dun Laoghaire as far back as 2008. Since then volumes through Dublin Port have continued to grow, as volumes through Dun Laoghaire have contracted thus providing Stena Line with a stark choice in relation to its future route network in the region.

Ian Davies added: "While we have enjoyed a very professional working relationship with Dun Laoghaire Harbour over many years, the economic realities of the current situation in relation to our business levels have left us with no choice but to close the service. Dublin continues to grow in importance, not only as the core freight port for Ireland but also as the key tourism gateway into Ireland."

"Ireland remains a strategically important region for us which is why Stena Line has invested over £250m across our Irish Sea business in the last five years alone. A number of economic indicators point to the continued recovery of the Irish and UK economies which has helped to stimulate renewed freight growth and returning tourism confidence in 2014. In 2014 we invested in a new Stena Line service to France from Rosslare and recently announced the arrival of the superferry Stena Superfast X into Dublin Port by late February."

Looking ahead, Stena Line is confident that this upward trend and to increasing its capacity on the Dublin Port service. The new vessel Superfast X  with space for up to 1, 200 passengers and 2 km of vehicle lane capacity will operate a year round sailing schedule.

#FerryMethanol – Classification society Lloyd's Register (LR) is set to class Sweden-based Stena Line's ferry Stena Germanica, claimed to be world's first methanol-powered sea vessel.

For the conversion of the 240m-long, 1,500-passenger Stena Germanica vessel to methanol propulsion, Stena has collaborated with Wärtsilä, the Port of Gothenburg, the Port of Kiel and Methanex Corporation, the world's largest methanol producer and supplier.

Five LR surveying teams from offices in Copenhagen, Trieste, Gothenburg, Venice and Southampton, have already overseen preliminary tests on a methanol-modified Wartsila engine 6ZAL40S that is similar to the one to be fitted on Germanica.

For more on this report visit: Ship-Technology.com

#RouteFuture? – There are growing fears that Stena Line may next year pull out of Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin, in a move that sources estimate could cost the harbour company €7 million, reports The Irish Times. 

Stena recently announced it would not run its (HSS) high-speed ferry service between Dún Laoghaire and Holyhead in Wales over Christmas for "commercial and operational reasons".

Concerns have since emerged that it intends to pull out of Dún Laoghaire altogether and will not next year resume the service it normally operates from the port during the summer.

When Stena said it would not operate the Christmas holiday service, it noted it was in talks with the south Dublin harbour company in relation to providing the summer service next year.

Both sides say those negotiations are continuing. It is understood they are due to meet again for further talks in the near future.

Stena's withdrawal would be a major blow to Dún Laoghaire Harbour. Sources estimate that Stena's business is worth €7 million a year to the company, which lost €890,000 in 2013.

For more on this story, click HERE.

#StenaSailings – Stena Line's Belfast-Cairnryan sailings are according to their website operating albeit not to a full schedule, following an incident involving a ferry colliding at the Scottish port earlier this week, writes Jehan Ashmore.

As previously reported, Stena Line said no passengers or crew on board Stena Superfast VII were injured in the incident which they also cited was not weather related.

Some sailings however are cancelled and other remains in doubt. Those booked or intending to travel can contact Stena Line ferrycheck on 087 05 755 755 in addition to confirming latest sailing information in either direction, by clicking this link HERE

Of the North Channel route's two serving sisters, Stena Superfast VII on Tuesday had collided with the dock at Cairnryan, the £80m terminal at Loch Ryan Port which opened in 2011.

The 30,000 tonnes ferry had been making a scheduled docking procedure at the port when contact was made with the fenders. This resulted in the ship remaining moored at the terminal while a full inspection was carried out.

#CancelledSailings - UT.V News reports the ferry from Belfast to Cairnryan collided with the dock at the Scottish port around 6am on Tuesday.

Stena Line said no passengers or crew were injured.

It also said the incident was not weather related.

As a result sailings have been suspended until at least 7.30pm today (to confirm see link to Stena website below).

Stena Line said its decision on sailings after that time will be communicated to customers as early as possible.

A spokeswoman added: "During a scheduled docking procedure at Loch Ryan Port Stena Line's Superfast VII vessel made contact with the fenders which has resulted in the ship remaining moored at the port while a full inspection is carried out.

For more on this story click HERE.

Those booked or intending to travel can contact Stena Line by telephone and by checking the latest sailing information from this LINK.

#StenaSuperfastX – Amid much speculation the deployment of Stena Superfast X to Dublin-Holyhead route in early 2015 as previously reported on Afloat.ie has been finally confirmed by Stena Line.

The 29,800 tonnes ropax ferry will bring increased capacity as she will replace the route's existing smaller Stena Nordica which currently serves alongside Stena Adventurer.

Stena Superfast X is a sister ship of Stena Superfast VII and VIII that currently operate on the Irish Sea on the Belfast-Cairnryan route.

The introduction of Stena Superfast X as the new second ship on the Dublin-Holyhead service will see the vessel providing capacity for up to 1,200 passengers and almost 2 kms of lane space to accommodate a mix of car and freight traffic.

Ian Davies, Stena Line's Route Manager (Irish Sea South) said: "Providing additional capacity and facilities to expand our Dublin- Holyhead route is an important strategic development for Stena Line on the Irish Sea at this time. Our freight and travel customers will now be able to benefit from an enhanced service on this key trade and tourism gateway at a time when commercial and leisure traffic between Ireland and Britain are showing really encouraging signs of future growth.

Ian added: "By introducing a much larger ship onto the route, we are demonstrating our confidence and commitment to a trade and tourism gateway which will play a key part in helping to drive forward the economies on both sides of the Irish Sea. In the last 5 years alone Stena Line has invested over £250m across its Irish Sea operations and we are confident that the improving economic climate in Ireland and Britain will show that this significant resource commitment has been extremely well timed. As the major tourism gateway into Ireland it is important that Dublin benefits from the best possible transport links. We are looking forward to our enhanced passenger service into Dublin in 2015 playing its part in helping to drive up visitor numbers next year and in the years ahead."

Superfast X as previously reported is being fully modified by McGregor, who are converting the vessel to increase vehicle capacity understood to be closer to her original configuration before she takes up her position on the Dublin-Holyhead service.

The vessel will have a range of facilities including dedicated passenger and freight driver lounges, Barista Coffee House, Met Bar and Grill, a retail shopping outlet and other areas for passengers to relax and enjoy including a premium lounge.

#CancelledHSSsailings – Stena Line have cancelled HSS fast-craft Dun Laoghaire-Holyhead sailings over the Christmas and New Year periods, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The decision to withdraw the scheduled sailings is only a month before the busy festive season from when sailings were due to start on 20 December and run up to early January 2015.

In response to Afloat.ie a statement was issued on behalf of Stena Line "In recent years Stena Line has deployed the HSS for a few days over the Christmas holiday period on its Holyhead-Dun Laoghaire service. For commercial and operational reasons the company has decided not to reactivate the vessel this year for the short Christmas holiday period. Customers who have already booked on the service will be accommodated on other sailings best suited to their travel requirements."

The statement added "Stena Line is currently engaged in ongoing discussions with Dun Laoghaire Harbour in relation to the provision of a seasonal fast craft service in 2015."

There has been widespread speculation in recent years over the future of the HSS service and that of the loss-making route. In addition the fast-craft which is expensive to run has for the last four years operated to a summer-only service between April to September.

This latest development of cancelled Dun Laoghaire route sailings over the festive season follows a previous report on Afloat.ie regarding Stena Line's route from neighbouring Dublin Port. A contractor to Stena Line, that is converting the ro-pax Stena Superfast X stated that she is to be deployed on the Dublin-Holyhead route in January 2015.

Stena Line confirmed their position as to the route deployment of the Stena Superfast X in which she will either be used within their network or that she may be chartered to a third party operator.

#StenaSimilarities- Stena Line which operates services throughout Northern Europe including the Gothenburg-Frederikshavn route has seen the return to service of Stena Jutlandica, the ro-pax having undergone maintenance, writes Jehan Ashmore.

Last Saturday Stena Jutlandica (1996/29,691grt) resumed the 3 hour 15 minute Kattegat route between Sweden and Denmark. She strongly resembles Irish Ferries Isle of Inishmore (1997/34,031grt) which serves on the slightly longer 4 hour St. Georges Channel Rosslare-Pembroke route.

The reason for the design similarities is that Stena Jutlandica and Isle of Inishmore were both launched from Van der Geissen-de Noord, Rotterdam. The Dutch yard no longer exists.

During the four-day absence of 'Jutlandica', there was no replacement of the ferry, though route fleetmates Stena Danica (conventional ferry) and Stena Scanrail (train-ferry) provided additional sailings.

A fourth route ferry the Stena Carisma was only withdrawn from service earlier this year. The Westamarin built HSS 900 fast craft from Norway is a smaller version of the trio of Finnyards built HSS 1500 fast-craft.

The first of the revolutionary trio, Stena Explorer is unique in that she is the only HSS member left and of any fast-craft design ferry in the extensive company's fleet.

As previously reported, Stena Explorer is to resume Christmas period sailings on selected dates in December on the Dun Laoghaire-Holyhead route. In addition she is to operate some sailings in the New Year during early January.

Her former Irish Sea running mate, Stena Voyager became redundant on the North Channel's Belfast-Stranrear before a switch of Scottish terminal. Last year she was towed to Sweden where a subsidiary of the ferry company, Stena Recycling undertook dismantling the fast-craft ferry.

The third of the trio, Stena Discovery served on the longest route operated by a HSS craft, that been Harwich-Hook van Holland. She was sold to Venezuelan interests and the craft is understood to have never entered service.

#StenaSuperfastX – Furthermore to a previous report over rumours that Stena Line are to deploy the Stena Superfast X onto the Dublin-Holyhead route in early 2015, following conversion work contracted to MacGregor, Afloat.ie has contacted the ferry company to comment, writes Jehan Ashmore.

MacGregor, part of Cargotec Corporation announced that they received a contract from Stena to convert the 29,800gt ropax ferry (currently named Dieppe Seaways) to optimise it for its new route between Dublin and Holyhead.

In response Peter Arvidsson Director Network & Fleet at Stena Line said "Although it is correct that MacGregor has been appointed by Stena RoRo to return the vessel to its original configuration, where the vessel will be deployed is currently a matter for ongoing discussion. From Stena Line's perspective it is possible that the Superfast X will be used within the Stena Line network or she may be chartered to a third party operator, but no decision has yet been taken".

It is understood that work is to begin once the charter of Dieppe Seaways running for DFDS Seaways Dover-Calais service ceases this month.

MacGregor's is to return the ro-pax ferry to its original configuration as dictated by expected requirements. This will involve the delivery of ro-ro cargo access equipment, including the design and installation of bow doors, a bow ramp, a new watertight door and a stern ramp.

Should the 'Superfast X' be introduced on the important Dublin-Holyhead route, she would provide an increase in passenger and freight capacity on the central corridor link. In addition she would be a closer match to the route's ro-pax Stena Adventurer, though not her running mate, the smaller Stena Nordica.

Stena Line's other Dublin Bay service from Dun Laoghaire to Holyhead has operated its fourth consecutive summer-only season which ended in early September. The route is served by the fuel thirsty and expensive to operate HSS Stena Explorer.

In efforts to stave off steep rise in fuel costs in recent years on the loss making route, Stena Line have reduced HSS sailings to a single daily round trip and increased crossings times from 99 minutes to 2 hours 20 minutes.

In response to Afloat.ie on the future of Dun Laoghaire-Holyhead route? Stena Line commented that the HSS is scheduled to return for the Christmas period (as previously reported) and is also scheduled for seasonal service 2015.