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Stena to offer accompanied freight six days a week on Rosslare/Cherbourg – updated

[ November 29, 2022   //   ]

Stena Line is planning to boost capacity on its Rosslare/Cherbourg route from next year when it adds a second cruise ferry to the service in 2023.

The Stena Vision will replace the current charter, Seatruck Panorama, and will operate alongside the other existing vessel, the Stena Horizon. Stena Vision previously operated the Swedish/Polish Karlskrona to Gdynia route where she is being replaced by the larger E-Flexer Stena Ebba from early next year.

The official planned introduction date for the new vessel is 30 June although the line is hoping for an earlier date. The enhanced service would be a year-round operation.

While Stena already has freight departures six days a week with the current vessels, the big plus for freight customers is that a ro-pax ferry is replacing a freight-only vessel, giving significantly more space for accompanied freight. Stena Vision’s 485 cabins will replace Panorama’s 12 which, together with Stena Horizon’s 110 cabins, mean that truck drivers should be able to get single occupancy cabins for most of the year, said a spokesman for the line.

The new vessel also means that car drivers and passengers will enjoy six days a week service on the route.

Paul Grant, Irish Sea trade director said: “We’ve seen increased demand for more services and bigger vessels and are pleased to announce that from next June we will have 12 sailings weekly on the shortest and most frequent direct service between Ireland and France.”

Demand for direct services to France from hauliers has increased since Brexit, he added.

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