Swedish Ferry Lines follow a huge investment program with over € 500 m – the biggest ever in company’s history.
Stena Line is currently making very large investments on strategically important routes. The world’s largest ferries will be introduced during[ds_preview] the summer and autumn of this year on the Hook of Holland-Harwich route. The very modern »Stena Hollandica« and »Stena Britannica« will be transferred to the Gothenburg-Kiel route, where they will replace the existing four vessels that currently service Gothenburg-Germany. The vessels »Stena Germanica« and »Stena Scandinavica« will be upgraded and moved to Karlskrona-Gdynia. The total value of the investment, including the construction of the Superferries, amounts to slightly more than 8 billion Swedish kronor, where the investment in vessels alone totals 5 billion Swedish kronor.
Just over two years ago, the construction of two Superferries started in the shipyard in Wismar, Germany, and in May it will be time for the first ferry to be taken into service between Hook of Holland and Harwich.
»We are the leader when it comes to vessel development and it is an exceptionally exciting year we have in front of us. We are implementing three very large investments on strategically important routes. We are convinces that this will provide very good services for our customers and will be something that stimulates both travel and freight on our routes,« says Gunnar Blomdahl, CEO for Stena Lines.
The two Superferries, under construction in Wismar, are groundbreaking, with their size, their onboard environments, energy efficiency, loading capacity and effective loading and unloading options. The first Superferry will be delivered to the Hook of Holland – Harwich route in May and the second in the autumn.
In connection with the vessel change on the Hook of Holland – Harwich route, there will be a positive domino effect, which will give the Scandinavian operations a lift, since the Gothenburg-Kiel route as well as the Karlskrona-Gdynia, will receive larger and more modern vessels. The change means that the Gotheburg-Kiel route will be merged with Gothenburg-Travemünde, as two vessels will replace the four ferries that currently travel between
Gothenburg and Germany. The greater size of the new vessels, compared to the old ones, will lead to preserved total load capacity and clear environmental gains, for example, the CO2 emissions will be reduced by approximately 30%.
»We are investing in order to become more efficient and more competitive. All routes will get new and improved vessels with more attractive restaurants, cabins, bars and other exciting experiences. The new vessels allow us to offer a wider range of services and better service in both of our business areas,« says Gunnar Blomdahl Especially the route Kiel-Gothenburg will profit from the change of vessels. In September the new »Stena Germanica« will enter its service and in beginning 2011 the sister vessel »Stena Scandinavia« will be replaced by another modern ship. Both are presently serving the route Hoek van Holland to Harwich as the largest combi-carrier in the world. They are going to be substituted by two Superferries (see below). All together the Swedish family owned company will invest € 500 million into the two newbuildings and the refurbishing of four vessels already in service. The comprehensive modernisation of the fleet is pleasing Claes Berglund, route-director of the lag Kiel to Gothenburg. »The new ferries are built for the future and will offer a high standard of convenience, unique cabins and very attractive restaurants« Mr. Berglund said. »Stena Germanica« and »Stena Scandinavia« originally had been built in 2001 and 2003, resp., and extended and re-built in 2007 at € 90 million. Up to now they are the largest ferries in liner service with a length of 240 Metres and a loading capacity of 4.100 Metres. The two ferries will substitute the four that are presently performing the service from Kiel and Travemünde to Gothenburg.
New Terminal Schwedenkai
In connection with the company’s restructuring program Stena Line and the port authorities of Kiel will inaugurate a new terminal in the »Seehafen Kiel«. »It is great that we will not only offer new ships to our customers but will also be able to present a state-of-the-art terminal which we developed together with the Seaport of Kiel« Berglund added. The new terminal shall be ready as from 1 September, 2010. It will provide a fast loading and discharging of the ferries and include a twelve story high Stena terminal building. In Gothenburg an adjustment of the terminal will follow, too.
The two worldwide largest Superferries will sail the North Sea between Harwich and Hook of Holland this year, following their launch by Stena Line in May and autumn 2010.
Stena Line’s largest ever investment of over £375 million has been spent on building the two new vessels, with the »Stena Hollandica« launching on 9 May 2010 and the Stena Britannica following in autumn 2010. The largest ferries of their type in the world in terms of combined passenger and freight capacity: each will be capable of transporting 230 cars, 300 freight vehicles and have 1,376 beds on board. The 538 cabins, finished in a light and fresh style, will be equipped with Dux beds, wider than on standard ferries, measuring a minimum width of 900mm and up to 1600mm in ‘captain’s suite’ rooms. All cabins will have a modern en suite bathroom with Hans Grohe fittings, and larger windows have been installed in both bathroom and main cabin areas to provide a feeling of space and light.
Customers will be able to enjoy onboard services including buffet and a la carte restaurants, cinema, bar, lounge, media room and internet corner. Customers can also stay connected throughout the journey with free wi-fi for all, mobile reception throughout the crossing and satellite television in lounges and cabins. There will be children and teenager zones, 12 kennels for dogs and a sundeck to allow passengers to relax outdoors during their journey.
Designed to have a low environmental impact, each Superferry is built in line with Stena Line’s Energy Savings Programme. Eco-friendly features on the new Superferries include catalytic converters, an improved hull design, highly efficient engines and better combustion rates, all helping to reduce environmental impact. The ferries have facilities to recycle glass, cardboard and food waste onboard, while solar film on all windows will exclude up to 82% of the sun’s radiant heat, reducing the energy used by the onboard cooling system.
Departing twice daily, the crossing takes approx 6.5 hours with a choice of day or night sailings in each direction. Departures from Harwich leave at 09:00 and around 23:45 each day, and at 14.30 and around 22:00 from the Hook of Holland.
Every year more than 450,000 people cross the North Sea between the UK and Holland with Stena Line, the largest ferry operator in Europe and one of the largest in the world. In the UK alone Stena Line, which operates Europe’s most comprehensive route networks, offers two daily crossings on its Harwich to Hook of Holland route as well as over 30 daily crossings on its five different routes to Ireland (Stranraer to Belfast, Fleetwood to Larne, Holyhead to Dublin, Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire and Fishguard to Rosslare) providing fast and efficient crossings with excellent onboard services and facilities.
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