Page 39 - Linkline Autumn 2015

end of an era
Stena Line goes Superfast on the Dublin Port-Holyhead Route, while the Historic Dun Laoghaire Holyhead Route Closes
In Holyhead at 20:30 on Monday 9th March 2015 a new Superferry, Stena Superfast X entered service on the Dublin Port Holyhead route. It was of cially
launched on Wednesday 11th March in Dublin Port by Stena Line Chairman Dan Sten Ossson and Irish Broadcaster Kathryn Thomas.
The Stena Superfast X is part of a family of ferries built by the Greek Ferry operator Superfast Ferries, and is a near sister of Stena Superfast VII and VIII, whom operate on the Belfast Cairnryan Route.
While this ship is called Stena Superfast X, crossing times are on par with other traditional Superferries operating on the route. The name Superfast relates to an unique passenger focus offered onboard it over other ferries. Contained within it’s 30,000 tonnes is an Stena Plus Lounge, Metropolitan Bar and Grill, The Outlet Shopping, Stena Line Truckers Lounge, Barista Coffee House, an Kids and Teen Area, Two Free Cinemas and Luxury Cabins.
This ship replaced the smaller Stena Nordica and has tripled passenger capacity over its predecessor sailings, where it can carry 1,200 passengers. Freight space has being maintained at former levels, with over 2 km of lane space for vehicles contained onboard.
Due to high fuel costs and a changed marketplace over the last number of years, Stena Line have decided to pull its seasonal fast ferry HSS service from Dun Laoghaire, leaving the port without a car ferry service in 2015 for the rst year in its history, since its construction in the early 18th Century.
Built in 1996, the HSS Stena Explorer replaced conventional ferry operation in Dun Laoghaire, the high speed craft, operated at its peak 5 round trips per day taking just 99 minutes port to port, operating at speeds at over 40 knots, using the marketing slogan, half the time, twice the service, replacing two ferries. Known by some as the Concord of The Sea’s, the
HSS was a popular ship with passengers. Over its life it suffered from its own success, rstly the craft was designed with an passenger focus with limited freight capacity, it was actually the rst fast ferry in the world that could carry trucks. Tax Free Shopping was abolished in 1999, this effected passenger demand for the service and on-board margins. Also at this
time with more intense competition with airlines signi cantly reduced air
40 The CharTered InsTITuTe of LogIsTICs & TransporT
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