Stena Line's new Stena Embla ferry has been reassigned from the company's Belfast-Liverpool route to its Rosslare-Cherbourg route.
The Stena Embla arrived in Belfast earlier this month. However, Stena Line said on its website that "due to the current Brexit-related shift for direct routes and increasing customer demand, Stena Line has decided to temporarily deploy the Stena Embla on Rosslare-Cherbourg."
Ship And Schedule Details
The Stena Embla is the third E-Flexer ferry that has been commissioned for Stena Line's Irish Sea routes in the last 12 months as part of a €400 million investment. It can carry up to 1,000 passengers, 120 cars and 3,100 lane metres of freight, and will increase the Rosslare to Cherbourg route's freight capacity by 20% and provide 60% more cabins for freight drivers.
The Stena Embla will make three return trips per week between Rosslare and Cherbourg, which, alongside the Stena Foreteller, will see Stena Line operating 12 crossings per week between Ireland and continental Europe.
"A Welcome Addition"
In a statement published on Stena Line's website, Stena Line's Irish Sea trade director, Paul Grant, said, "Given the short-term market distortion, we have decided to temporarily deploy our new Stena Embla vessel on the Rosslare-Cherbourg route. Clearly Brexit has created an increase in the demand for direct freight routes, and in particular driver accompanied freight, so the addition of Stena Embla, whilst temporary, plus the recently introduced Stena Foreteller to the route will provide a welcome addition for our customers at this time.
"Stena Line has always prided itself on being flexible when it comes to the efficient deployment of its fleet. Having very experienced onshore and onboard teams means that we are able to respond to market and customer demands rapidly. At present, we are currently reviewing our Rosslare-Cherbourg operations and will keep engaging with our customers to identify the most appropriate Stena Line operation for the route."
"Warmly Welcome"
Meanwhile, Rosslare Europort general manager Glenn Carr commented, "We warmly welcome Stena Embla to Rosslare for its maiden in-service voyage. We have been working closely with Stena Line to facilitate the unprecedented demand for capacity directly to and from the continent, and the boost in capacity Stena Embla delivers has been mobilised swiftly through our close cooperation. On behalf of Irish industry and all of our customers and stakeholders, we thank Stena Line for their ongoing commitment to Rosslare Europort."
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