Stena Line

Stena Line is a Swedish shipping line company and one of the world's largest ferry operators. It services Denmark, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland, Finland and Sweden. Stena Line is a major unit of Stena AB, itself a part of the Stena Sphere. It is a sister company to Stena Bulk, one of largest tanker companies in the world.

History

Formation

Stena Line was founded in 1962 by Sten A. Olsson in Gothenburg, Sweden, which still serves as the company's headquarters, when he acquired Skagenlinjen between Gothenburg and Frederikshavn, Denmark.

In 1972, Stena Line was one of the first ferry operators in Europe to introduce a computer-based reservation system for the travel business area. In 1978, the freight business area also started operating a computer-based reservation system.

Freight

The first freight-focused route[1] started between Gothenburg, Sweden, and

Acquisitions and closures

homepage	stenaline.com

2008, May – The company moved its Belfast Terminal from Albert Quay to the new VT4. This has reduced the length of the crossing to Stranraer by ten minutes.

2009, July – Stena Line announced that it had repurchased its former ship, Stena Parisien, from SeaFrance. The ship was renamed Stena Navigator after a comprehensive refit. She was then introduced on the Stranraer to Belfast route, alongside HSS Stena Voyager and Stena Caledonia.

2010, December – Stena Line announced it had acquired the Northern Irish operations of DFDS Seaways. The sale includes the Belfast to Heysham & Birkenhead routes, two vessels from the Heysham route (Scotia Seaways & Hibernia Seaways) and two chartered vessels from the Birkenhead route (MS Mersey Seaways & MS Lagan Seaways).[11] The Fleetwood to Larne route ended on 24 December 2010.

2011, 21 November – Stena Line introduced the Stena Superfast VII and Stena Superfast VIII to replace the Stena Navigator and Stena Caledonia on the Belfast–Cairnryan route. It was announced that the Stena Voyager would be removed from service on 20 November 2011. It was later sold to Stena Recycling and sent for scrapping in May 2013. The two new vessels were initially chartered from Tallink before Stena bought them in 2017.

2014, 26 February – it was announced that Stena Line would acquire Celtic Link Ferries service from Rosslare to Cherbourg, France.[12] It was also agreed to take over the charter of their vessel Celtic Horizon, which was renamed Stena Horizon.[13]

2019, February – A joint venture with Hyundai Glovis has been announced and approved by the European Commission, for the implementation of a new cooperative short sea intra-European waters service in between the two carriers, for the sea transport of transhipment cargo originating from South Korea.[14]

2020, 14 March – due to the Coronavirus outbreak, the company suspended operations between Oslo and Frederikshavn temporarily until further notice due to travel restrictions in Denmark and Norway, the routes sole ship the MS Stena Saga was sent to Gothenburg where she arrived on 16 March 2020 where the company later confirmed it would be making 950 redundancies in Sweden as a result of Coronavirus. The company then later announced on 19 March 2020 that it was going to permanently suspend and close operations on the Oslo–Frederikshavn service due to the lack of profitability, where Stena announced that due to Coronavirus it was unlikely able to see it turn a profit during the whole year when the service is totally dependent on the summer season. The future of Stena Saga remains uncertain and remained laid up in Gothenburg (since end of 2021 she has been anchored near Manila, Philippines).

2020 – 2021 – After being replaced by two new e-flexers, MV Stena Embla and MV Stena Edda, on the Belfast to Birkenhead route MV Stena Mersey and MV Stena Lagan proceeded to Tuzla, Turkey for a major refit. This included lengthening by 36 m, adding full drive through capabilities on two decks, full interior renovation and adding fuel scrubbers to reduce emissions. They entered service on the Nynäshamn to Ventspils route as MV Stena Baltica and MV Stena Scandica respectively.[15][16]

2021, February – May – Due to a shift in travel demand, MV Stena Estrid swapped with MV Stena Horizon giving additional capacity to the Rosslare to Cherbourg route. This is after MV Stena Estrid operated a temporary route between Dublin and Cherbourg in January 2021.

2021, April – Stena introduced MV Stena Livia, which has been owned by Stena RoRo since 2012, on the Nynäshamn to Ventspils route alongside sister ship MV Stena Flavia. Later in the year they were transferred to the Travemünde to Liepāja route after being replaced by the newly refurbished MV Stena Baltica and MV Stena Scandica.[17]

2021, June – July – Due to a shift in travel demand, MV Stena Estrid operated a temporary route between Holyhead and Belfast.[18]

2022, 1 February – Stena introduced the Nynäshamn – Hanko route initially with MV Urd as a cargo vessel then additionally with MV Stena Gothica from May 2022.[19]

2023, 30 June – Stena transferred MV Stena Vision to their Rosslare to Cherbourg route, greatly increasing the passenger capacity and doubling the passenger sailings on the route. She replaced the chartered freight vessel MV Seatruck Panorama.[20] She was replaced by the new MV Stena Ebba on her previous route Karlskrona to Gdynia.

2023, 9 October – Stena announced they will be closing the Nynäshamn to Hanko on 20 October 2023, with the vessels being transferred within their fleet or going up on the charter market.[21]

2023, October – Stena bought MV Frijsenborg, renaming her MV Stena Forwarder during a refit in Ostend.[22] She entered service on the Birkenhead to Belfast route on 2 November 2023, replacing MV Stena Foreteller.[23]

2023, 15 December – Stena confirmed their intention to open a Dublin to Birkenhead route, replacing the P&O's service which they ceased operating on 21 December 2023 with MV Norbank. On 19 February 2024, Stena Line initiated its new freight-only route from Dublin to Birkenhead, the Stena Horizon will be temporarily used on this route as a permanent vessel solution is being considered.[24][25][26] MV Bore Song was introduced on the route from mid April 2024.[27][28]

2024, 8 March – Stena announced that they sold MV Urd to Sea Lines for an undisclosed amount. Delivery is to take place in May 2024 for services between Turkey and Romania.[29][30]

2024, 8 April – Stena Line acquired 49% of the shares in Africa Morocco Link (AML) from Attica Group, expanding them outside of Europe. They operate the routes Tanger Med, Morocco to Algeciras, Spain and Tangier Ville, Morocco to Tarifa, Spain.[31]

2024, May – Stena RoRo signed a contract to convert MV Stena Foreteller and MV Stena Forerunner to install an extra cargo deck and thruster power.[32] This will add 30% additional capacity for each vessel.[33] MV Stena Foreteller sailed for Weihai, China on 14 February 2025, she arrived on 26 March 2025 and then re entered service on 25 July 2025, allowing MV Stena Forerunner to head for her conversion.[34]

2024, September – MV Stena Gothica was sold to Universal Maritime and renamed MV Gothica for service in the Mediterranean Sea.[35]

2024, 10 September – MV Stena Vision will be removed from the Rosslare to Cherbourg route due to lack of demand from 27 October 2024.[36]

2024, 7 December – Due to the closure of Holyhead port all sailings to Dublin are cancelled, initially until 13 Dec then to 20 Dec then to 15 January 2025 with additional routes running out of Dublin to Fishguard with MV Stena Adventurer', Birkenhead with MV Stena Estrid, and Heysham with chartered MV Ben My Chree'.[37][38] The closure of the port was due to storm damage from Storm Darragh which damaged part of the pier at terminal 3.[39]

2024, 16 December – It was announced that MV Stena Vinga will be chartered to DFDS for their new route to Jersey after winning the tender for it. She began service on 28 March 2025.[40][41]

2025, 21 March – It was announced that MV Stena Livia had been sold to Strait NZ Bluebridge for service on the Cook Strait from August 2025.[42] From 25 April MV Stena Horizon will take over from her on the Travemünde – Liepāja route with MV Stena Vision taking her previous post on the Cherbourg – Rosslare route from 17 April after relieving the chartered MV Patria Seaways.

2025, 30 June – It was announced that the Rosslare to Cherbourg route would be withdrawn due to lack of demand from 30 September 2025.[43]

2025, 4 November – Wasaline was acquired by Stena Line along with their route between Umeå, Sweden and Vaasa, Finland. The vessel, Aurora Botnia, will continue to be owned by a company owned by the two cities she operates to.[44] They took over the operations from 9 February 2026.[45]

2025, 21 November – MV Stena Vision was sold to Corsica Sardinia Ferries, being renamed Mega Serena.[46]

2026, 3 February – Stena announced that they will cease operating the Halmstad to Grenå route from 30 April 2026 due to challenges to achieve profitability on the route.[47]

Fleet

Current ships

{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1" ! scope="col" width="140pt"| Name ! scope="col" width="90pt"| Built ! scope="col" width="90pt"| Gross Tonnage ! scope="col" width="90pt"| Passengers ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Images ! colspan="6" |

-
Stena Adventurer || 2003 || 43,532 || 1,500 || || Stena Adventurer.jpg
-
Stena Baltica (formerly Stena Mersey)|| 2005 || 26,500 (as built) 35,456 (after rebuild) || 970 || Rebuilt February - December 2021, adding two level drive through, lengthened by 36m and renamed.|| Stena Mersey, River Mersey (geograph 4593080).jpg
-
Stena Britannica || 2010 || 64,039 || 1,200 || || MS Stena Britannica 2012-10-10 001.jpg
-
Stena Connecta || 2026 || 20,924 || 12 || On delivery voyage. Launched 24 February 2025. Completed sea trial September 2025. Entered service 23 January 2026.
-
Stena Danica || 1983 || 15,899 (as built) 29,289 (current) || 2,274 || || Stena Danica.jpg
-
Stena Ebba || 2022 || 48,035 || 1,200 || The Fifth E-Flexer Class ship for Stena Line.
Stena Ebba, ship.jpg
-
Stena Edda || 2019 || 41,671 || 927 || The second E-Flexer Class ship for Stena Line. || Stena Edda at Birkenhead, 202003.jpg
-
Stena Embla|| 2020 || 41,671 || 927 || The third E-Flexer Class ship for Stena Line. ||Stena Embla at Birkenhead 2021-3.jpg
-
Stena Estelle || 2022 || 48,035 || 1,200 || The Fourth E-Flexer Class ship for Stena Line. ||Karlskrona stenaline terminal 2024.jpg
-
Stena Estrid || 2019 || 41,671 || 927 || The first E-Flexer Class ship for Stena Line. || Stena Estrid at berth in Holyhead.jpg
-
Stena Europe || 1981 || 24,828 || 1,400 || || Stena Europe Strapline.jpg
-
Stena Flavia || 2008 ||26,904 ||880 || || Stena Flavia-8541.jpg
-
Stena Forecaster || 2003 || 24,688||12 || ||Here is the shipping forecaster (50788758971).jpg
-
Stena Forerunner || 2003 || 24,688 (as built) 30,238 (after rebuild)||12 || Rebuilt September - November 2025 with an extra trailer deck.|| STENA FORERUNNER (39184614994).jpg
-
Stena Foreteller || 2003 || 24,688 (as built) 30,238 (after rebuild) || 12 || Rebuilt March - June 2025 with an extra trailer deck.||Stena Foreteller in the Kiel Canal V.jpg
-
Stena Forwarder || 2016 || 21,966 || 12 || Bought in October 2023.||Frijsenborg ship R07.jpg
-
Stena Futura || 2025 || 20,835 || 12 || Launched 21 October 2024, sea trials 26 May – 25 June 2025, entered service 22 September 2025.
The 'Stena Futura' at Belfast - geograph.org.uk - 8157401.jpg
-
Stena Germanica || 2001 || 29,841 (as built) 51,837[52] (after rebuild) || 1,300 || Lengthened by 52m March - May 2007.|| GS001962.jpg
-
Stena Hibernia || 1996 || 13,017 || 12 || || StenaHiberniaPIC.jpg
-
Stena Hollandica || 2010 || 64,039 || 1,200 || || Stena hollandica harwich.jpg
-
Stena Horizon || 2006 || 27,552 || 972 || || [[File:The "Stena Horizon", Belfast harbour (January 2019) - geograph.org.uk - 6021220.jpg|200x200px]]
-
Stena Jutlandica || 1996 || 29,691 || 1,500 || || Stena Jutlandica5001.jpg
-
Stena Nautica || 1986 || 11,763 (as built) 19,504 (after rebuild) || 2,000 (as built) 663 (after rebuild) || Rebuilt in 2002 with the lowest passenger deck being converted into a vehicle deck, doubling the lane metres but the passenger capacity was thirded.[53]|| Stena Nautica på väg in i Varbergs hamn.jpg
-
Stena Nordica || 2000 || 24,206 (as built) 24,263 (after rebuild) || 405 || Rebuilt in 2023 with more passenger space. || Stena Nordica.jpg
-
Stena Scandica (formerly Stena Lagan)|| 2005 || 26,500 (as built) 35,456 (after rebuild) || 970 || Rebuilt August 2020 - May 2021, adding two level drive through, lengthened by 36m and renamed.|| Stena Scandica.jpg
-
Stena Scandinavica || 2003 || 43,487 (as built) 58,084 (after rebuild) || 900 (as built) 1,300 (after build) || Lengthened by 30m January - March 2007.|| Stena Scandinavica 2015-06-15 001.jpg
-
Stena Shipper || 2012 || 29,429 || 12 || ||Giuseppe Lucchesi in porto.jpg
-
Stena Scotia || 1996 || 13,017 || 12 || || Stena Scotia, 07.02.2016.jpg
-
Stena Spirit || 1988 || 39,193 || 1,300 || || Stena Spirit 2011-08-05 001.jpg
-
Stena Superfast VII || 2001 || 30,285 || 1,200 || Stena took ownership from Tallink in December 2017. || 'Stena Superfast VII' in dry dock, Belfast - geograph.org.uk - 5320822.jpg
-
Stena Superfast VIII || 2001 || 30,285 || 1,200 || Stena took ownership from Tallink in December 2017. || Stena Superfast VIII.jpg
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Stena Transit || 2011 || 33,690 || 300 || || STENA TRANSIT (37033287692).jpg
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Stena Transporter || 2011 || 33,690 || 300 || || Stena Transporter (12885293065).jpg
-
Stena Vinga|| 2005 || 14,551|| 400 || Chartered out to DFDS Seaways for Jersey services.|| Stena Vinga.jpg
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Mecklenburg-Vorpommen || 1996 || 37,987 || 600 || || Ferry Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.jpg
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Skåne || 1998 || 42,705 || 600 || || MS Skåne.jpg
-

Current chartered vessels

! colspan="6" |

-
Patria Seaways || 1992 || 18,332 ||245 || Built as Stena Traveller, owned by Stena line 1992 – 2004.[54] || Patria Seaways in Ostuferhafen I.jpg
-
Ben My Chree || 1998 || 12,747 || 500 || For temporary Dublin – Heysham route due to the closure of Holyhead and 2025 - 2026 dry dock cover.
Ben-my-chree april 2010.jpg
-
Mistral || 1999 || 10,471 || 12 ||
Mistral (1999).jpg
-
Thuleland || 2006 || 23,128 || 12 || [55]

Current chartered vessels

! colspan="6" |

-
Patria Seaways || 1992 || 18,332 ||245 || Built as Stena Traveller, owned by Stena line 1992 – 2004.[54] || Patria Seaways in Ostuferhafen I.jpg
-
Ben My Chree || 1998 || 12,747 || 500 || For temporary Dublin – Heysham route due to the closure of Holyhead and 2025 - 2026 dry dock cover.
Ben-my-chree april 2010.jpg
-
Mistral || 1999 || 10,471 || 12 ||
Mistral (1999).jpg
-
Thuleland || 2006 || 23,128 || 12 || [55] ||Thuleland (IMO 9343261) Tilbury 2017.jpg

Recently chartered vessels

-
Somerset (formerly Spaarneborg) || 1999 || 21,005 || 12 || || Spaarneborg (1).JPG
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Fionia Sea || 2009 || 25,609 || 12 || ||
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Jutlandia Sea || 2010 || 25,609 || 12 || ||
-
Bore Song || 2011 ||25,586 || 12 || [56] || M-V Bore Song - geograph.org.uk - 3794562.jpg
}On 10 May 2023, Stena has announced that they had ordered two NewMax freight hybrid freight vessels for the Belfast to Heysham route. They are due to begin service in Autumn 2025, giving an 80% boost in capacity to the current ships at 147 m long with 2,800 lane meters. The NewMax vessels will be methanol powered and have built in electrification including for shore power and battery propulsion.[57]

type	Private company
foundation	1962
founder	Sten A. Olsson
location	Gothenburg, Sweden
key people	Niclas Martensson (CEO)
num employees	5,000 (2015)
industry	Transport
services	Ferries Shipping Port services
revenue	Green Arrow Up.svg 32.6 billion SEK (2023)

History

Formation

Freight

North Sea

North America

Irish Sea

English Channel

Further expansion

Acquisitions and closures

Routes

Irish Sea

North Sea

Scandinavia

Baltic Sea

Charters

Fleet

Current ships

Current chartered vessels

Current chartered vessels

Recently chartered vessels

Gallery

See also

External links

References

Recently chartered vessels