Sealink-Holyhead: Stena Discovery

HSS Discovery

Stena Ships

The HSS Discovery (R) is passed by sister Stena Explorer, 1 October 2009. © Ronnie Roberts

The third of the HSS 1500 series, the Dutch-flag Stena Discovery entered service between Hoek van Holland and Harwich on 6 June 1997. The vessel's maiden voyage was actually between Belfast and Stranraer, entering service on 26 April 1997 and remaining there until 24 May.

Primarily due to high operating costs on her relatively long North Sea passage, the Stena Discovery was withdrawn from Stena Line service on 8 January 2007, her final in-service crossing being the 10.40hrs ex-Harwich. Taking a route via Portsmouth she arrived in Belfast for lay-up on 24 January 2007.

In 2009 the craft was sold to the new Venezuelan company Albamar for service between the ports of La Guaira, Estado Vargas and El Guamache, Estado Nueva Esparta (Margarita Island). The craft was dry docked in April of that year for maintenance before sale and renamed HSS Discovery.

HSS Discovery rounds Holyhead Breakwater, 30 Sep 2009. © Ronnie Roberts

HSS Discovery, Holyhead Outer Harbour, 30 Sep 2009. © Ronnie Roberts

HSS Discovery, Holyhead, 30 Sep 2009. © Ronnie Roberts

After numerous false departure dates the HSS Discovery finally left Belfast on the morning of the last day of September 2009. Arriving in Holyhead that afternoon, the craft berthed on the port's HSS linkspan before spending the night on the Anglesey Aluminium jetty. After the departure of sister Stena Explorer for Dun Laoghaire the following morning the "Discovery" returned to the linkspan for final bunkers and stores. She left the port for South America at 15.30hrs, exchanging a farewell whistle salute with her inward bound sister in the Outer Harbour.

The HSS Discovery's new operation should succeed as Venezuela is an oil producing country and consequently fuel costs are signifcantly lower than in Europe.