Stena Line announced a consolidation of its services from Holyhead to Dublin Port on 4th February, something that had been anticipated for some time. The company stated that it will be concentrating on expanding its existing ferry service at Dublin Port while at the same time confirming that it is withdrawing its HSS Stena Explorer and the Holyhead- Dun Laoghaire service.

The 19,638gt/1996 built Stena Explorer was the first of three HSS 1500 craft and remained in service longer than her sisters Stena Voyager and Stena Discovery, for a total of 18 years until 9th September 2014. The HSS carried 1.7 million passengers annually during its peak in 1998 but, post the withdrawal of ‘duty free’ shopping, passenger and car volumes declined dramatically and by 2014, less than 200,000 ferry passengers travelled through Dun Laoghaire Harbour. This represented a decline of over 90% in volume, making the route unsustainable.

On a brighter note, the 30,551gt/2002 built Stena Superfast X (former Dieppe Seaways) will arrive on the Dublin service from late February to operate opposite the 43,532gt/2003 built Stena Adventurer. She will replace the 24,206gt/2000 built Stena Nordica which in turn will transfer to DFDS Seaway’s Dover- Calais service in place of her Irish Sea successor.

The Stena Nordica was sidelined on 1st February for a few days when she was hit by the 1,241gt/2003 built bunker vessel Keewhit whilst berthed at Holyhead causing a gash in the ferry’s hull above the waterline. During this spell of stormy weather the 24,828gt/1981 built Stena Europe also had an eventful voyage to Fishguard from Rosslare on 31st January and had to put to sea again before full disembarkation began when a mooring line failed. The ship sailed north along the Welsh coast to shelter off the Llyn Peninsular overnight prior to returning to port the next morning after a total of 26 hours when conditions eased. A lorry aboard the ship also overturned.