MS Stena Baltica (2005)

MS Stena Baltica is a RoPax ferry, owned by Stena Line and operates on the Baltic Sea between Nynäshamn, Sweden and Ventspils, Latvia. The ship previously operated on the Irish Sea, between Birkenhead and Belfast, as Stena Mersey.

For other ships with the same name, see MS Stena Baltica.

Stena Mersey, seen from New Brighton, entering the River Mersey in 2015.
History
Name
  • 2005–2010: Mersey Viking
  • 2010–2011: Mersey Seaways
  • 2011–2021: Stena Mersey
  • 2021–: Stena Baltica
Owner
  • 2005–2012: Levantina Trasporti Srl
  • 2012–: Stena Ropax Ltd
Operator
Port of registry
Route
BuilderCantiere Navale Visentini
Yard number213
Launched2 July 2005
CompletedDecember 2005
Maiden voyageDecember 2005
Identification
Statusin service
General characteristics [1]
TypeFerry
Tonnage26,500 GT (as built)
Length
  • 186.46 m (611 ft 9 in) (as built)
  • 222 m (728 ft 4 in) (2021 rebuild)[2]
Beam25.6 m (84 ft 0 in)
Draft6.63 m (21 ft 9 in)
Installed power2 x MAN B&W 9L 48/60B
Propulsion
  • 2 × Controllable pitch propellers
  • 2 × bow thrusters
Speed24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph)
Capacity
  • 980 passengers (As built, limited to 720 passengers by Stena)
  • 970 passengers (2021 rebuild)
NotesShip lengthened during 2021[2]

The ship was built in Italy by Cantiere Navale Visentini and launched in 2005. As built, the vessel measured 26,500 gross tonnage (GT) and could carry up to 980 passengers. The on-board cabins had space to sleep 480 passengers. There are four vehicle decks with a capacity for approximately 200 trailers. The vessels maximum speed is 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph), but usually sails at 23 knots (43 km/h; 26 mph) in normal service.

History
Stena Mersey as Mersey Viking in Liverpool

Stena Baltica was launched in December 2005 as Mersey Viking, entering service with Norse Merchant Ferries later the same month. A few months later, Norse Merchant Ferries was acquired by Norfolkline. Mersey Viking received Norfolkline lettering on her red hull but retained her Norse Merchant Ferries funnel for several years.

In July 2010 Norfolkline was acquired by DFDS. The vessel was renamed Mersey Seaways during her refit in August 2010. Later that same year, DFDS sold its Northern Irish operations to Stena Line.[3] In August 2011, the vessel was renamed Stena Mersey[4]

Early in 2012, Stena Mersey, along with her sister ship Stena Lagan, was given a complete interior and exterior refit and repaint at Harland and Wolff.

Stena Mersey was replaced on the Birkenhead to Belfast route in February 2021,[5] following the introduction of the E-Flexer-class ferry Stena Embla in late January 2021. Stena Mersey is due to undergo lengthening at the Sedef Shipyard in Tuzla, Istanbul, with the inclusion of a 36 m (118 ft) midsection, renamed as Stena Baltica and then re-entering service. Stena Baltica is planned to operate on the Baltic Sea between Nynäshamn and Ventspils.[6]

Route

Stena Mersey operated on the Birkenhead–Belfast route with her marginally older sister ship Stena Lagan. The total journey time on board the ship was 8 hours.

On board

Stena Mersey carried a maximum of 720 passengers.[7]

References
  1. "DFDS Seaways - Ferry Fleet - Mersey Seaways". DFDS Seaways. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
  2. "Stena Line's Modernized Ferry Pair". Maritime Reporter. January 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  3. "Stena ends Larne to Fleetwood line and buys Belfast routes". BBC News. 3 December 2010. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
  4. "MERSEY VIKING - 9329851 - Vessel's Details and Current Position". Archived from the original on 23 February 2010.
  5. "Farewell Stena Mersey! Liverpool ferry leaves Belfast for the final time". NIFerrySite. 14 February 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  6. "Stena Line to put Stena Scandica and Stena Baltica ferries on Ventspils-Nynashamn route". The Baltic Course. 21 December 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  7. "STENA LAGAN / STENA MERSEY (C.N. Visentini 212/213) NI Ferry Site". NI Ferry Site. 22 October 2021.
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