Stena Line to take €100 million super ferry to the sea next summer

FROM next summer a €100m super ferry will ply the Irish Sea route between Dublin and Holyhead. Both ports will need to have their facilities enhanced to accommodate the vessel's size.

At 211 meters, Stena Line's new roll on passenger vessel (RoPax) will be the longest to operate on the route. It will work in tandem with the HSS Stena Explorer, the world's largest fast ferry.

Designed to carry 1,500 passengers a 50% increase on current capacity on the route there will also be a 70% rise in deck capacity which will include double-tier bow and stern loading. Facilities will include bars restaurants, and lounges for car and coach customers, as well as a lounge and restaurant for up to 200 freight drivers. The 44,200-tonne ship will have 148 cabins, 364 beds and travel at 22 knots.

Stena route director Vic Goodwin said: "We have already seen tremendous growth on the route as a result of introducing the Stena Forwarder, and we have now decided to introduce this larger RoPax to meet the growing demands of the tourism and freight markets.

"This major investment emphasises our commitment to strengthening the economic link between Ireland, Wales and the Continent of Europe."

Stena area director Gunnar Blomdahl said: "The investment in this RoPax vessel on the Dublin-Holyhead route follows the introduction of the Stena Europe on the Rosslare-Fishguard route earlier this year and will strengthen our position on both corridors."

He said the decision to introduce the ship followed Stena Line's decision to invest in a Stg£12.3m development in the port of Holyhead, part of which will be paid by the EU regional fund.

Last year, Stena Line carried more than 3.5 million passengers on its Dun Laoghaire/Dublin Holyhead, Rosslare-Fishguard and Belfast-Stranraer routes.