MS Stena Mersey

MS Stena Mersey is a RoPax ferry operated by Stena Line between Birkenhead and Belfast.

Stena Mersey, seen from New Brighton, entering the River Mersey in 2015.
History
Name:
  • 2005–2010: Mersey Viking
  • 2010–2011: Mersey Seaways
  • 2011–: Stena Mersey
Owner:
  • 2005–2012: Levantina Trasporti Srl
  • 2012–: Stena Ropax Ltd
Operator:
Port of registry:
Route: Birkenhead-Belfast
Builder: Cantiere Navale Visentini
Yard number: 213
Launched: 2 July 2005
Completed: December 2005
Maiden voyage: December 2005
Identification:
Status: in service
General characteristics [1]
Tonnage: 26,500 gt
Length: 186.46 m (611.7 ft)
Beam: 25.6 m (84 ft)
Draft: 6.63 m (21.8 ft)
Installed power: 2 x MAN B&W 9L 48/60B
Propulsion:
  • 2 × Controllable pitch propellers
  • 2 × bow thrusters
Speed: 24 knots (44 km/h)
Capacity: 980 passengers (limited to 720 passengers by Stena)

Stena Mersey was built in Italy by Cantiere Navale Visentini. The vessel measures 26,500 gt fully laden and can carry up to 980 passengers. The on-board cabins have space to sleep 480 passengers.

There are four vehicle decks with a capacity for approximately 200 trailers. The vessels maximum speed is 27 knots, but usually sails at 23 knots in normal service.

History
Stena Mersey as Mersey Viking in Liverpool

Stena Mersey 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.[2] In August 2011, the vessel was renamed Stena Mersey[3]

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.

Route

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

On board

Stena Mersey carries a maximum of 720 passengers.[4]

gollark: Or just stupid, stupid amounts of Unbreakable.
gollark: I'd never use a crossbow, since Plethora has *lasers*, and TiC has shurikens.
gollark: Maybe as an auxiliary part on swords...
gollark: I normally try and go stone → steel/obsidian → cobalt.
gollark: Which is very slightly more annoying than cobble!¬

References
  1. "DFDS Seaways - Ferry Fleet - Mersey Seaways". DFDS Seaways. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
  2. "Stena ends Larne to Fleetwood line and buys Belfast routes". BBC News. 3 December 2010. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
  3. http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/shipdetails.aspx?mmsi=235068243
  4. "STENA LAGAN / STENA MERSEY (C.N. Visentini 212/213) NI Ferry Site". NI Ferry Site.
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