Stena Line and Anglesey County Council welcome successful freeport bids

By | 2023 Newsletter week 12 | No Comments

Stena Line and Isle of Anglesey County Council joint bid to establish a Freeport in Holyhead has been successful. The Freeport status was granted by the UK and Welsh Governments, marking a significant economic boost to North Wales.

  • Simplified customs and trade rules will apply. In future, goods entering Anglesey Freeport will not be subject to the UK’s usual tax and customs regime.
  • In a press release, Stena says the announcement signals the beginning of the process to revitalise the GB land bridge, which has suffered a 20% reduction in trade since Brexit.
  • The Freeport will reduce the need for hauliers to transit goods around the southern tip of the UK, “a process which is both environmentally damaging and economically inefficient.”

Increased intermodal capacity for Stena Line

By | 2023 Newsletter week 10 | No Comments

From 13 March, the logistics and transport company NTEX increases its intermodal service with a new collaboration with Stena Line and the Italian railway operator Hannibal.

A twice weekly rail service between Europort and Melzo (Milan) will boost the existing daily departures in both directions between Italy and the UK.

Intermodal transport by train and ferry creates a 70% CO2 saving in comparison to delivering mainly by road.  In addition it delivers a quicker transit time and increased trailer capacity with loading up to 28 tons.

Photo: NTEX.

Stena Danish routes back to pre-pandemic levels

By | 2023 Newsletter week 9 | No Comments

Stena Line has reported that bookings on their Danish ferry routes are back to the same level as before the pandemic.

The Frederikshavn – Gøteborg and Grenå – Halmstad ferry services are reporting;

  • Summer bookings 20% ahead of the same time last year
  • The number of bookings in January is at the same level as before the pandemic
  • Day trips are up 350% compared to 2022

Danish travellers make up the majority of passengers on these routes. With the exchange route compared to the Swedish krone unusually low, it makes Sweden a very attractive holiday option for Danes.

The news comes in the same week as the popular STENA DANICA celebrated her 40th anniversary of entering service on the Frederikshavn – Gøteborg route.

Photo: Stena Line

Stena Line commits to Birkenhead

By | 2023 Newsletter week 8 | No Comments

Stena Line and Peel Ports have signed a significant deal to continue operating to the port of 12 Quays, Birkenhead (Liverpool) until the year 2100.

Stena Line has operated from the Mersey port since acquiring the Belfast – Birkenhead service from DFDS in 2011.

The 77-year deal follows recent major investments in the route;

  • The brand-new E-Flexer ferries STENA EDDA and STENA EMBLA were introduced to the route in 2020 and 2021
  • Linked to the arrival of the new vessels, the South berth at Birkenhead was converted to two tier loading
  • Stena Line has recently purchased two sites adjacent to the 12 Quays Terminal, to provide additional freight storage for its freight customers as they continue to expand their businesses there

Niclas Martensson, CEO of Stena Line, says: “After 12 successful years in 12 Quays our business in Birkenhead continues to flourish year-after-year. This deal is a sign of our long-term commitment to Birkenhead and Peel Ports, with whom we have a very strong partnership. We will continue to make significant investments to increase our services to our customers across the Irish Sea.”

The value of the deal has not been disclosed.

Carl-Johan Hellner of Stena Line (L) and David Huck, Peel Ports.  Photo: Stena Line

Stena Line to add RoPax on Ireland-France service

By | 2022 Newsletter week 48 | No Comments
  • Stena Line will introduce a second ropax on its Rosslare – Cherbourg service, currently served by STENA HORIZON.
  • STENA VISION will increase frequency on the route to 6 departure days a week, starting June 2023.
  • 1,300 passengers and 485 passenger cabins (including) 42 pet cabins.
  • STENA VISION will also increase driver accompanied capacity with more cabin space for freight drivers.
  • STENA VISION will come fresh from the Baltic Sea, where it has been operating on the busy Swedish/Polish Karlskrona to Gdynia route. It will be replaced by the Stena Line’s new larger E-Flexer STENA EBBA early next year.
  • Stena Line currently charters SEATRUCK PANORAMA as freight-only vessel on the same route.

Stena Line and Anglesey County Council announce bid to bring Freeport to North Wales

By | 2022 Newsletter week 47 | No Comments

Stena Line and Anglesey County Council have announced their intention to submit a major freeport bid.

Stena Line is pledging a major foreign investment in Holyhead Port, which is the second largest roro port in the country and an international gateway to Ireland, via the Irish Sea and an integral part of the “land bridge” between Britain and the EU.

If successful, the bid is predicted to return Holyhead to pre-Brexit levels of trade and cement the area as a hub for innovation in trade and clean energy, with industry-leading initiatives along its coastline driving the UK towards its net zero objectives.

The formal bid will be submitted next week to the UK and Welsh Governments.

Stena Line reports 11% reduction of carbon emissions

By | 2022 Newsletter week 34 | No Comments

Stena Line has decreased the carbon emissions by 11% per tonne of cargo carried over each nautical mile, as well as achieving a reduction of 4% total ship emissions compared to pre-Covid operations. The main contributor to the result is the significantly higher utilisation and thus efficiency of the company´s fleet with cargo during the latest years. In its roadmap to a net-zero future, Stena Line has set up a target to reduce total CO2 emissions from its vessels by 30% by 2030.

During port operations and lay times, Stena Line now uses 100% renewable electricity. The energy is used for shore power at 20% of Stena Line´s terminals while berthing, to load battery packages on-board and for electric vehicles onshore that are used during port operations. Furthermore, initiatives like prior access to e-trucks to Stena Line´s ferries and pilot projects to use recycled methanol from the steel industry as shipping fuel lay the foundation for further step-wise greening of the operations of Stena Line.

Stena Line´s sustainability efforts are based on six dedicated Sustainable Development goals of the UN: Affordable and clean energy, responsible consumption and production, life below water, gender equality, reduced inequalities, good health and well-being. 

Further highlights in Stena Line´s sustainability efforts during 2021 include:

  • A recycling rate of 42% of waste and a fallback of landfill waste to 2019 levels (24%), before plastic use increased for safety purposes
  • 50% female representation in Stena Line’s Group Management Team
  • Appointing the first female captain in Lynette Bryson, serving on Stena Aventurer on the key route Dublin-Holyhead
  • Recruiting the first Diversity and Inclusion Lead in Salem Yohannes, helping Stena Line to speed up the journey to equality and launch of a diversity and inclusion campaign
  • Introducing Maria Tornvall as new Head of Sustainability, committed to aligning Stena Line´s sustainable actions towards the ambitious targets
  • Improving employee indicators such as engagement, team efficiency, leadership, organisation and social work environment above benchmark and achievement of a positive net promoter score of 9 – meaning  employees would recommend Stena Line as an attractive workplace.
  • Reduction of sick leave average from 5,2% to 4,2%

Stena Line secures Grenaa till 2034

By | 2022 Newsletter week 34 | No Comments

Stena Line has signed a long-term agreement with the Port of Grenaa, Denmark to secure a stable ferry connection to Halmstad, Sweden until 2034.

“The Halmstad-Grenå route is of utmost importance for Stena Line’s position between Denmark and Sweden – this deal means that we can offer both freight customers and passengers a stable and efficient transport across Kattegatt, and it will allow us to continue our growth in the region”, says Christina Bromander, newly appointed Trade Director Denmark at Stena Line.