The Stena Seatrader

The Stena Seatrader is seen leaving Dublin for Holyhead on Thursday 2 November 2006. Obviously a cheap supply of blue paint was found! © Nick Robins

During September 2006 Stena Line redeployed an existing ferry from its North Sea fleet, the Stena Seatrader, to commence operations on the Holyhead - Dublin service. The new service completed one round trip per day, leaving Holyhead at 22:15hrs and Dublin at 15:15hrs, increasing capacity on the corridor significantly.

The additional ship comes on the back of a successful year for Stena Line which saw total freight volumes grow by 8% during 2005.  The company’s five Irish Sea routes were particularly successful enjoying growth of 16%, with the biggest increase taking place on on the Holyhead to Dublin Bay routes where the number of freight vehicles travelling on these routes jumped to 173,000 units.  

The UK-flag ship is owned by Stena BV and managed by Northern Marine Management. Built in 1973 by A/S Nakskov Skibsværft as the Svealand for Lion Ferry Ab, she was immediately chartered to Swedish Railways for service between Trelleborg and Sassnitz. In 1981 she was sold to Rederi Ab Nordö and before entering service between Malmö and Travemünde was rebuilt in Hamburg to increase capacity. She was further rebuilt in 1987 by and renamed Svea Link. The ship was sold to Stena in 1989 and renamed Stena Seatrader for service between Harwich and Hoek van Holland. She was transferred to the Killingholme-Hoek van Holland route in 2001. Photo: Wearing her old Stena livery, the Stena Seatrader. © Gary Davies - Maritime Photographic.

The Stena Seatrader has accommodation for up to 236 passengers and capacity for 2100 metres of freight. Her Pielstick diesels give her a speed of 17.5 knots. Length is 182.7 metres, beam 22.13 metres and draught 6.22 metres.

The Stena Seatrader leaves Hoek van Holland for the last time, bound for Holyhead © Henk van der Lugt

For over 16 years she was part of the ferry services from Hoek van Holland , arriving there for the first time on 1 May 1990). © Henk van der Lugt

She was in service there for longer than all core passengers ships introduced since 1968 © Henk van der Lugt

First arrival at Holyhead © John Lewis

Above: The Irish Sea's Night Owl, captured in summer evening sunlight arriving at Holyhead. © John Lewis