By
Alex Smith |
Stena Line’s newest ferry on the Irish Sea, Stena Edda, has completed her maiden voyage from Liverpool, England, to Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Celebrations were held in Liverpool to mark the sailing, including a countdown lightshow. Stena Edda is the largest ferry to operate on the route, providing 40 per cent more deck capacity and cabins than current vessels on the route, as well as 30 per cent better fuel efficiency.
The Irish Sea is very important to our company and we are committed to enhancing and developing our services on these routes,” said Paul Grant, chief commercial officer of Irish Sea and North Sea at Stena Line. “The Liverpool to Belfast route has been growing consistently since Stena Line acquired it almost 10 years ago. In that time, we’ve continued to increase capacity, improve the product and last year was a record-breaking year for freight and travel.”
New port infrastructure has been developed to accommodate the ferry’s 215-metre length, involving Stena Line’s partners at port operators Peel Ports and Belfast Harbour. The improvements should allow passengers to load and unload more quickly and easily.
Stena Edda and the port enhancements are part of an investment of over £200 million ($252 million) by Stena Line into its Irish Sea operations, which includes the construction of three new vessels. Stena Estrid entered service in January, while Stena Embla will join Stena Edda on the Belfast-Liverpool route in early 2021.
Watch Stena Edda set out on her inaugural voyage: