Stena Line announces start date for new freight service

Leading ferry company Stena Line has revealed that its new freight service on the Holyhead to Dublin route will commence operations from Monday September 11, 2006.

Earlier this year, Stena Line Freight revealed its plans to increase freight capacity on the Central Corridor by redeploying an existing ferry, the Stena Seatrader, from its North Sea fleet.

The new service will complete one round trip per day between Holyhead and Dublin, leaving Dublin at 15:15hrs and Holyhead at 22:15hrs. With 2,100 lane metres, it will increase capacity on the central corridor significantly.

"In recent years, we have seen Holyhead Port grow in importance to freight customers who now see Holyhead as the main gateway for transport to and from Ireland," said Vic Goodwin, Stena Line Route Director for the Central Corridor.

"This is due to the opening of the A55 dual carriageway in 2001 which has reduced the journey time to the port and enabled freight traffic to grow by 50% through Holyhead port since the turn of the decade," he added.

Stena Line Freight Commercial Manager Frank Nieuwenhuys believes that the addition of the new ferry will have great practical benefits for customers.

"In addition to providing greater frequency and capacity for our freight customers, we believe the new sailing times will prove attractive for customers who want to arrive in Dublin and get underway before the morning rush hour and return early thereby improving vehicle turnaround time and fleet utilisation," explained Frank.

"This year, we are introducing new tonnage on our North Sea routes from Killingholme to Hoek of Holland with two new ships and this gives us the opportunity to expand our freight services on the Irish Sea by redeploying a vessel from our North Sea fleet to start this service on the 11 September 2006," he concluded.

Stena Line said the vessel would finish on the Killingholme Route at the beginning of August and then proceed to refit for a complete overhaul, which includes an investment of over £300,000 to improve the facilities on board for freight drivers.

Technical facts Stena Seatrader:

Gross tonnage: 17 991 t

LOA: 183 m

Beam: 22 m

Draught: 6.1 m

Speed: 17 knots

Ship Type: RoPax vessel

Passenger Capacity: 221

Car capacity: 210

Freight capacity: 2 100 lane meters

Built/last rebuilt: 1973

Shipbuilder: Nakskov Skibsværft, Denmark

Port of Registry: London

Flag: British

Engines: 4 x Pielstick

kW/horsepower: 10 500 kW / 14 000 hp

Holyhead - Dun Laoghaire

1 x Foot Passenger(s) Return

Travelling on: 11/08/2012 - 12/08/2012

£32

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Harwich - Hook of Holland

Car + 2 Return

Travelling on: 01/10/2012 - 10/10/2012

£141

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Harwich - Hook of Holland

Car + 4 Return

Travelling on: 28/09/2012 - 02/10/2012

£190

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* Prices are "from prices" and are indicative only

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