UK. Stena Line has launched the first of two Superferries – described as the largest of their type in the world – on the North Sea route between Harwich and the Hook of Holland.
The Stena Hollandica, which was launched on Sunday, and the Stena Britannica, which goes into service in the autumn, were built at a cost of over £375 million. Each will be capable of transporting 230 cars and 300 freight vehicles, and will have 1,376 beds onboard.
Onboard services include retailing, buffet and à la carte restaurants, cinema, bar, lounge, media room and Internet corner. There is also free wi-fi for all, mobile phone reception throughout the crossing, and satellite television in lounges and cabins. There will be zones for children and teenagers, 12 kennels for dogs and a sundeck.
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The Stena Hollandica is capable of transporting 230 cars and 300 freight vehicles, and has 1,376 beds onboard |
Each vessel will make one return trip daily; the crossing takes around 6.5 hours with a choice of day or night sailings in each direction. Departures from Harwich leave at 9am and around 11.30pm each day, and at 2.30pm and around 10.00pm from the Hook of Holland.
Stena Line’s launch is just one of a number of major investments across the ferry industry. P&O Ferries has two new ferries under construction at a cost of €360 million, which will be the largest ever to ply the Dover-Calais route. The first of these goes into service in early 2011, with the second scheduled for September 2011.
LD Lines’ Norman Leader will sail on the Portsmouth-Le Havre route, and is due for delivery later this year. From the same company comes a new high-speed ferry, Norman Arrow, which will operate two return sailings a day on the same route until September.
The Moodie View takes a closer look at the Stena Hollandica on its maiden voyage |
