Stena orders two more E-Flexers

Photo: Stena Line

The company has decided to exercise its option to build a seventh and eight ro-paxes of the E-Flexer class at the Chinese Avic Weihai Shipyard.

However, the two, scheduled for delivery in 2022, will be larger than the E-Flexers nos. 1-6. The additional ferries will be 240 m-long (vs. 210 m), offering 3,600 lane metres of cargo capacity (3,100 lm). They'll also accommodate up to 100 more passengers (1,200 across 263 cabins).

Stena will put the first E-Flexer on its Holyhead-Dublin service, the next two will ply between Liverpool and Belfast, whereas three other will be chartered by Stena RoRo to Britanny Ferries and to DFDS Seaways. "At this stage we haven't decided where within our route network these two vessels will be deployed and are currently evaluating several options," Niclas Mårtensson, CEO, Stena Line, said in this regard.

He also commented, "We foresee increasing demand for freight capacity in Northern Europe and our new vessels fit very well in matching anticipated market developments as we prepare ourselves for further expansion. […] We are building on our successful RoPax concept mixing freight and passenger traffic. Through standardisation we can secure a reliable operation and by investing in tonnage that is flexible we can provide an even better product that will ultimately support our customers and help them to grow."