Excitement builds as Stena Superfast X arrival draws near

26/02/2015

Stena Superfast X pictured at the shipyard in Gdynia, Poland, before its departure for Holyhead)

The Stena Superfast X ferry, which is due to make its debut sailing from Holyhead to Dublin Port next week, has left the Polish shipyard in Gdynia where staff have been working around the clock to ensure that the vessel is ready for its eagerly awaited launch.

Excitement is growing ahead of the imminent arrival in Holyhead of the latest flagship of Stena Line’s already impressive Irish Sea fleet, a sister ship of the award winning Stena Superfast VII and VIII ships which have been a huge success on the Cairnryan to Belfast route since their launch in 2011. 

With no fewer than 10 decks, the Stena Superfast X has the capacity to carry up to 1200 passengers and offers almost two kilometres of lane space for freight traffic and other vehicles - while another significant development for the freight market is the ship’s ability to accommodate 4.65m high trailers.

Drivers will be able to relax in the ship’s exclusive truckers’ lounge or take a nap in one of the vessel’s comfortable cabins.  Other onboard facilities include a Barista Coffee House, Met Bar and Grill, retail shopping in the ‘Outlet’, two free cinemas, a family lounge featuring a children’s play area and X-Box stations and lots of other areas for passengers to enjoy their crossing, including Stena Line’s premium lounge Stena Plus.

“As we count down the days to Stena Superfast X’s arrival, the excitement and anticipation is certainly growing,” said Stena Line’s Head of Freight (UK and Ireland) Richard Horswill.  “And we are really looking forward to welcoming our first freight customers on board.

“Superfast X has been designed specifically to accommodate the mix of freight and tourism traffic that is required for this route and we are confident that our freight drivers will like what they see when the ship arrives on the Irish Sea.

“As well as increasing our capacity with two kilometres of lane space, our ability to accommodate 4.65m high trailers is a very important addition for our freight customers,” he added. 

“Work is being carried out round the clock to provide our customers with a level of comfort and facilities that we believe are unrivalled on the Irish Sea, from our dedicated truckers’ lounge to our deluxe cabins.

“In addition, our enhanced all year round service with four daily crossings alongside the Stena Adventurer offers freight customers the flexibility they require to meet their own customers’ demands,” concluded Richard.

Stena Line’s Ian Davies, Route Manager, Irish Sea South said: “Providing additional capacity and facilities to expand our Holyhead-Dublin route with the introduction of Stena Superfast X is an important strategic development for Stena Line on the Irish Sea at this time.

“Our freight and travel customers will now be able to benefit from an enhanced service on this key trade and tourism gateway at a time when commercial and leisure traffic between Ireland and Britain are both showing really encouraging signs of future growth.     

“By introducing a much larger ship onto the route, we are demonstrating our confidence and commitment to driving forward the economies on both sides of the Irish Sea.

“In the last five years alone Stena Line has invested over £250m across its Irish Sea operations and we are confident that the improving economic climate in Ireland and Britain will show that this significant resource commitment has been extremely well timed,” he added.

The Stena Superfast X will make two return sailings daily between Holyhead and Dublin, completing the crossing in 3 hours and 15 minutes.  Superfast X will operate alongside the Stena Adventurer, providing Stena Line customers with a choice of up 28 return sailings per week all year round on the route.