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Stena Line
Company typePrivate
IndustryTransport
Founded1962
FounderSten A. Olsson
HeadquartersGothenburg, Sweden
Key people
Niclas Martensson CEO)
Services
Revenue 5.0 billion SEK (2015)
Number of employees
5,000 (2015)
ParentStena AB Edit this on Wikidata
Websitewww.stenaline.com
Stena Adventurer
A miniature model of the Stena Line ferry on display at Madurodam miniature park, the Netherlands.

Stena Line is a Swedish shipping line company and one of the largest ferry operators in the world. It services Denmark, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Finland and Sweden. Stena Line is a major unit of Stena AB, itself a part of the Stena Sphere. It is a sister company to one of the world's leading tanker company Stena Bulk.

History

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Formation

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Stena Line was founded in 1962 by Sten A. Olsson in Gothenburg, Sweden, which still serves as the company's headquarters, when he acquired Skagenlinjen between Gothenburg and Frederikshavn, Denmark.

In 1972, Stena Line was one of the first ferry operators in Europe to introduce a computer-based reservation system for the travel business area. In 1978, the freight business area also started operating a computer-based reservation system.

Freight

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The first freight-focused route[1] started between Gothenburg, Sweden, and Kiel, Germany. The ship was the MS Stena Transporter.

North Sea

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During the 1980s, Stena acquired three other ferry companies.

  • 1981, Sessan Line, Stena's biggest competitor on Sweden–Denmark routes, was acquired and incorporated into Stena Line.[2] This included Sessan's two large newbuilds, Kronprinsessan Victoria and Prinsessan Birgitta, which became the largest ships operated by Stena by that date.[citation needed]
  • 1983, Stena acquired Varberg-Grenå Linjen, and two years later also the right to that company's former name, Lion Ferry. Lion Ferry continued as a separate marketing company until 1997, when it was incorporated into Stena Line.[3]
  • 1989, Stena acquired yet another ferry company, Stoomvaart Maatschappij Zeeland (SMZ) (which at the time traded under the name Crown Line). SMZ's Hook of Holland–Harwich route then became a part of Stena Line.[4]

North America

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  • 1988, July - Stena Line purchased the British Columbia Steamship Co., operators of a Victoria–Seattle route.[5]
  • 1990, November - The Victoria–Seattle run was permanently cancelled, and the local company ceased trading.[6]

Irish Sea

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In 1990, Stena Line doubled in size with the acquisition of Sealink British Ferries from Sea Containers. This first became Sealink Stena Line, then Stena Sealink Line and finally Stena Line (UK), which now operates all of Stena's ferry services between Great Britain and Ireland.[citation needed]

Stena Superfast X arriving at Dublin (2017)
Stena Jutlandica in Gothenburg

In 1996, Stena Line introduced its 20,000 tonne HSS (High-speed Sea Service) vessels, which operated: Belfast–Stranraer; Holyhead–Dún Laoghaire and Hook of Holland–Harwich. In addition to the three 1,500-passenger HSS vessels, Stena Line ordered two smaller 900-passenger HSS vessels to operate on the Gothenburg–Frederikshavn route. Due to the bankruptcy of the shipyard, only the first of these vessels was ever completed.

English Channel

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In 1998, Stena's operations from Dover and Newhaven formed a joint venture with P&O European Ferries as P&O Stena Line, owned 40% and 60% respectively. In 2002, P&O acquired all of Stena's shares in the company, thus becoming the sole owner of P&O Stena Line, which soon changed its name to P&O Ferries.

Further expansion

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In 2000, Stena Line purchased yet another Scandinavian ferry operator: Scandlines AB.[citation needed]

In November 2006, Stena ordered a pair of "super ferries" with a gross tonnage of 62,000 from Aker Yards, Germany for delivery in 2010, with an option for two more ships of the same design.[7] The new ferries will be amongst the largest in the world,[8] to be operated on Stena's North Sea route from Hook of Holland to Harwich. The existing ships from the North Sea were to be moved to the Kiel–Gothenborg route, whereas the ships from Kiel would transfer to the Gdynia to Karlskrona route. The new ferries were launched in 2010, with Stena Hollandica entering service on 16 May 2010, and Stena Britannica planned to enter service in the autumn of 2010.[9]

Acquisitions and closures

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  • 2008, May - The company moved its Belfast Terminal from Albert Quay to the new VT4. This has reduced the length of the crossing to Stranraer by ten minutes.
  • 2009, July - Stena Line announced that it had repurchased its former ship, Stena Parisien, from SeaFrance. The ship was renamed Stena Navigator after a comprehensive refit. She was then introduced on the Stranraer to Belfast route, alongside HSS Stena Voyager and Stena Caledonia.
  • 2010, December - Stena Line announced it had acquired the Northern Irish operations of DFDS Seaways. The sale includes the Belfast to Heysham & Birkenhead routes, two vessels from the Heysham route (Scotia Seaways & Hibernia Seaways) and two chartered vessels from the Birkenhead route (Mersey Seaways & Lagan Seaways).[10] The Fleetwood to Larne route ended on 24 December 2010.
  • 2011, 21 November - Stena Line introduced the Stena Superfast VII and Stena Superfast VIII to replace the Stena Navigator and Stena Caledonia on the Belfast–Cairnryan route. It was announced that the Stena Voyager would be removed from service on 20 November 2011. It was later sold to Stena Recycling and sent for scrapping in May 2013. The two new vessels were initially chartered from Tallink before Stena bought them in 2017.
  • 2014, 26 February - it was announced that Stena Line would acquire the Celtic Link ferry service from Rosslare to Cherbourg, France. It was also agreed to take over the charter of their vessel Celtic Horizon, which was renamed Stena Horizon.[11]
  • 2019, February - A joint venture with Hyundai Glovis has been announced and approved by the European Commission, for the implementation of a new cooperative short sea intra-European waters service in between the two carriers, for the sea transport of transhipment cargo originating from South Korea.[12]
  • 2020, 14 March - due to the Coronavirus outbreak, the company suspended operations between Oslo and Frederikshavn temporarily until further notice due to travel restrictions in Denmark and Norway, the routes sole ship the MS Stena Saga was sent to Gothenburg where she arrived on 16 March 2020 where the company later confirmed it would be making 950 redundancies in Sweden as a result of Coronavirus. The company then later announced on 19 March 2020 that it was going to permanently suspend and close operations on the Oslo–Frederikshavn service due to the lack of profitability, where Stena announced that due to Coronavirus it was unlikely able to see it turn a profit during the whole year when the service is totally dependent on the summer season. The future of Stena Saga remains uncertain and remained laid up in Gothenburg (since end of 2021 she has been anchored near Manila, Philippines).
  • 2020 – 2021 - After being replaced by two new e-flexers, MV Stena Embla and MV Stena Edda, on the Belfast to Birkenhead route MV Stena Mersey and MV Stena Lagan proceeded to Tuzla, Turkey for a major refit. This included lengthening by 36 metres (118 ft), adding full drive through capabilities on two decks, full interior renovation and adding fuel scrubbers to reduce emissions. They entered service on the Nynäshamn to Ventspils route as MV Stena Baltica and MV Stena Scandica respectively.[13][14]
  • 2021, February – May - Due to a shift in travel demand, MV Stena Estrid swapped with MV Stena Horizon giving additional capacity to the Rosslare to Cherbourg route. This is after MV Stena Estrid operated a temporary route between Dublin and Cherbourg in January 2021.
  • 2021, April - Stena introduced MV Stena Livia, which has been owned by Stena RoRo since 2012, on the Nynäshamn to Ventspils route alongside sister ship MV Stena Flavia. Later in the year they were transferred to the Travemünde to Liepāja route after being replaced by the newly refurbished MV Stena Baltica and MV Stena Scandica.[15]
  • 2021, June – July - Due to a shift in travel demand, MV Stena Estrid operated a temporary route between Holyhead and Belfast.[16]
  • 2022, 1 February - Stena introduced the Nynäshamn - Hanko route initially with MV Urd as a cargo vessel then additionally with MV Stena Gothica from May 2022.[17]
  • 2023, 30 June - Stena transferred MV Stena Vision to their Rosslare to Cherbourg route, greatly increasing the passenger capacity and doubling the passenger sailings on the route. She replaced the chartered freight vessel MV Seatruck Panorama.[18] She was replaced by the new MV Stena Ebba on her previous route Karlskrona to Gdynia.
  • 2023, 9 October - Stena announced they will be closing the Nynäshamn to Hanko on 20 October 2023, with the vessels being transferred within their fleet or going up on the charter market.[19]
  • 2023, October - Stena bought MV Frijsenborg, renaming her MV Stena Forwarder during a refit in Ostend.[20] She entered service on the Birkenhead to Belfast route on 2 November 2023, replacing MV Stena Foreteller.[21]
  • 2023, 15 December - Stena confirmed their intention to open a Dublin to Birkenhead route, replacing the P&O's service which they ceased operating on 21 December 2023 with MV Norbank. On 19 February 2024, Stena Line initiated its new freight-only route from Dublin to Birkenhead, the Stena Horizon will be temporarily used on this route as a permanent vessel solution is being considered.[22][23][24]
  • 2024, 8 March - Stena announced that they sold MV Urd to Sea Lines for an undisclosed amount. Delivery is to take place in May 2024 for services between Turkey and Romania.[25][26]
  • 2024, September - MV Stena Gothica was sold to Universal Maritime and renamed MV Gothica for service in the Mediterranean Sea.[27]
  • 2024, 10 September - MV Stena Vision will be removed from the Rosslare to Cherbourg route due to lack of demand from 27 October 2024.[28]
  • 2024, 7 December - Due to the closure of Holyhead port all sailings to Dublin are cancelled, initially until 13 Dec then to 20 Dec then to 15 Jan 2025 with additional routes running out of Dublin to Fishguard with MV Stena Adventurer, Birkenhead with MV Stena Estrid, and Heysham with chartered MV Ben My Chree.[29][30] The closure of the port was due to storm damage from Storm Darragh which damaged part of the pier at terminal 3.[31]
  • 2024, 16 December - It was announced that MV Stena Vinga will be chartered to DFDS for their new route to Jersey after winning the tender for it. She will begin service on 28 March 2025.[32]

Routes

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Irish Sea

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North Sea

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Scandinavia

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Baltic Sea

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Laid up or chartered out

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  • Laid up and relief in Gothenburg: Stena Vinga
  • Laid up around Irish Sea (number of ports and anchorages): Stena Vision
  • Marseille - Rades (Charter to CMA CGM[38]): Stena Forecaster

Fleet

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Further information: List of Stena Line vessels

Current ships

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Name Built Gross Tonnage Passengers Notes Images
Stena Adventurer 2003 43,532 1,500
Stena Baltica (formerly Stena Mersey) 2005 26,500 (as built) 980 Lengthened in 2020.
Stena Britannica 2010 63,039 1,200
Stena Danica 1983 15,899 2,300
Stena Ebba 2022 45,000 1,200 The Fifth E-Flexer Class ship for Stena Line.
Stena Edda 2019 41,671 927 The second E-Flexer Class ship for Stena Line.
Stena Embla 2020 41,671 927 The third E-Flexer Class ship for Stena Line.
Stena Estelle 2022 45,000 1,200 The Fourth E-Flexer Class ship for Stena Line.
Stena Estrid 2019 40,500 927 The first E-Flexer Class ship for Stena Line.
Stena Europe 1981 24,828 1,400
Stena Flavia 2008 26,904 830
Stena Forecaster 2003 24,688 12
Stena Forerunner 2003 24,688 12
Stena Foreteller 2003 24,688 12
Stena Forwarder 2016 21,966 12
Stena Germanica 2001 51,837[39] 1,300
Stena Hibernia 1996 13,017 12
Stena Hollandica 2010 63,039 1,200
Stena Horizon 2006 27,552 972
Stena Jutlandica 1996 29,691 1,500
Stena Livia 2008 26,904 880
Stena Nautica 1986 11,763 663
Stena Nordica 2000 24,206 405 Rebuilt in 2023
Stena Scandica (formerly Stena Lagan) 2005 26,500 (as built) 980 Lengthened in 2021.
Stena Scandinavica 2003 55,050 900
Stena Scotia 1996 13,600 12
Stena Spirit 1988 39,193 1,700
Stena Superfast VII 2001 30,285 1,200 Stena took ownership from Tallink in December 2017.
Stena Superfast VIII 2001 30,285 1,200 Stena took ownership from Tallink in December 2017.
Stena Transit 2011 33,690 300
Stena Transporter 2011 33,690 300
Stena Vision 1981 39,178 1,700
Stena Vinga 2005 14,551 400
Mecklenburg-Vorpommen 1996 37,987 600
Skåne 1998 28,960 600

Current chartered vessels

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Ben My Chree 1998 12,504 500 For temporary Dublin - Heysham route
Thuleland 2006 23,128 12 [40]
Fionia Sea 2009 25,609 12
Jutlandia Sea 2010 25,609 12
Bore Song 2011 25,586 12 [41]

Formerly chartered vessels

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POL Maris 2009 29,904 12 POL MARIS (50562957306)
POL Stella (formerly Hatche) 2009 29,004 12 HATCHE (50315571597)
Seatruck Panorama 2009 14,759 12 Chartered from Seatruck Ferries. SEATRUCKPANORAMA
Somerset (formerly Spaarneborg) 1999 21,005 12

Future fleet

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On 10 May 2023, Stena has announced that they had ordered two NewMax freight hybrid freight vessels for the Belfast to Heysham route. They are due to begin service in Autumn 2025, giving a 80% boost in capacity to the current ships at 147 metres (482 ft) long with 2,800 lane meters. The NewMax vessels will be methanol powered and have built in electrification including for shore power and battery propulsion.[42]

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  • Stena Traveller at the Hook of Holland
    Stena Traveller at the Hook of Holland
  • Stena Traveller at the Hook of Holland
    Stena Traveller at the Hook of Holland

See also

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References

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Notes

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  1. ^ Chiefly a freight route. However passengers and cars are transported
  2. ^ "Sessan Linjen" (in Swedish). Fakta om Fartyg. Archived from the original on 1 August 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2007.
  3. ^ "Lion Ferry" (in Swedish). Fakta om Fartyg. Archived from the original on 29 July 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2007.
  4. ^ "Stoomvaart Maatschappij Zeeland" (in Swedish). Fakta om Fartyg. Archived from the original on 31 July 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2007.
  5. ^ "Prince George Citizen". pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca. 15 July 1988. p. 1.
  6. ^ "Prince George Citizen". pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca. 14 November 1990. p. 2.
  7. ^ "Press release". Aker Yards. 9 November 2006. Retrieved 21 September 2007.
  8. ^ "Stena Line announces major investment in innovative ferries". Stena Line press release. Retrieved 21 September 2007.
  9. ^ "'Superferry' in maiden Harwich crossing". BBC News. 16 May 2010. Retrieved 16 May 2010.[permanent dead link‍]
  10. ^ "DFDS sells Irish Sea ferry routes". DFDS A/S. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
  11. ^ "Stena Line buys Celtic Link ferry service". RTÉ News. 26 February 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  12. ^ "EU gives green light to Stena Hyundai Glovis joint-venture". World Maritime News. 5 February 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  13. ^ "Two new vessels to join our Baltic Sea fleet next year - Stena Line Freight". stenalinefreight.com. 27 September 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  14. ^ "Stena Scandica - Stena Line Freight". stenalinefreight.com. 21 June 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  15. ^ "Stena Livia joins the Baltic Sea fleet - Stena Line Freight". stenalinefreight.com. 9 April 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  16. ^ "New temporary ferry service between Holyhead and Belfast - Stena Line Freight". stenalinefreight.com. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  17. ^ "Our new freight route launched on 1 February - Stena Line Freight". stenalinefreight.com. 3 February 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  18. ^ "Stena Vision in service on our Rosslare-Cherbourg route - Stena Line Freight". stenalinefreight.com. 28 June 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  19. ^ "Discontinuation of our route between Nynäshamn in Sweden and Hanko in Finland from 20 October 2023 - Stena Line Freight". stenalinefreight.com. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  20. ^ "MV Stena Forwarder (ex Frijsenborg) – Past and Present". Dover Ferry Photos. 1 October 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  21. ^ "New Stena Line ferry enters Birkenhead to Belfast service - niferry.co.uk". niferry.co.uk. 5 November 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  22. ^ a b "Launching new freight route from Dublin to Birkenhead (Liverpool) - Stena Line Freight". stenalinefreight.com. 15 December 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  23. ^ "Stena Line confirms launch of new Merseyside to Dublin ferry service - niferry.co.uk". niferry.co.uk. 17 December 2023. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  24. ^ "Stena Line commences new Irish Sea freight-only route". The Irish News. 19 February 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
  25. ^ "Stena Rederi closes deal to sell the vessel Urd to Sea Lines | Ships Monthly". 14 March 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  26. ^ "MV Urd (ex Seafreight Highway) – Past and Present". Dover Ferry Photos. 23 September 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  27. ^ "Equasis - HomePage". www.equasis.org. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  28. ^ "Stena Line announces change to Rosslare-Cherbourg service". News Powered by Cision. 10 September 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  29. ^ "Stena Line sailing information during closure of Holyhead Port". News Powered by Cision. 13 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  30. ^ a b c "Stena Line seeks to secure alternative Irish Sea crossings as Holyhead Port remains closed". News Powered by Cision. 16 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  31. ^ "MSN". www.msn.com. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  32. ^ "First vessel for Jersey ferry service to Portsmouth confirmed". BBC News. 16 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  33. ^ "Stena Line boosts capacity on Dublin to Liverpool ferry route - niferry.co.uk". niferry.co.uk. 22 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  34. ^ "Boosting our capacity on our Dublin-Liverpool (Birkenhead) route with freight only vessel - Stena Line Freight". stenalinefreight.com. 22 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  35. ^ "Stena Line to replace Stena Europe with Stena Nordica on Fishguard – Rosslare route - StenaLine.com". stenaline.com. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  36. ^ https://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/news/24792888.stena-adventurer-likely-sail-fishguard-dublin-20th/
  37. ^ "Timetable - Stena Line Freight". stenalinefreight.com. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  38. ^ "Stena Forecaster – Stena Roro". stenaroro.com. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  39. ^ "Stena Line – Our ships". Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  40. ^ "M/V Thuleland | Wallenius Sol". wallenius-sol.com. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  41. ^ "M/V Bore Song". Bore. 19 September 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  42. ^ "Stena Line boosts freight capacity on Irish Sea with two all-new NewMax hybrid vessels - StenaLine.com". stenaline.com. Retrieved 10 May 2023.

Bibliography

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  • Brogren, Klas; Bergenek, Anders; Sahlsten, Rickard (2012). Stena Line: the story of a ferry company. Göteborg: Stena Line. ISBN 9789186687236.
  • Cowsill, Miles; Hendy, John; Haalmeijer, Frank (1993). Harwich-Hoek van Holland: 100 years of service / 100 jaar verdienst. Narberth, Pembrokeshire: Ferry Publications. ISBN 1871947154.
  • Cowsill, Miles; Hendy, John (1996). Holyhead-Dun Laoghaire: from car ferry to HSS. Narberth, Pembrokeshire: Ferry Publications. OCLC 484331905.
  • Cowsill, Miles; Hendy, John (1997). Stena Line: the fleet. Narberth, Pembrokeshire: Ferry Publications. ISBN 1871947448.
  • Cowsill, Miles (2006). Fishguard-Rosslare: the official 1906–2006 anniversary book of Stena Line. Ramsey, Isle of Man: Ferry Publications. ISBN 1871947820.
  • Cowsill, Miles (1998). Stranraer-Larne: the car-ferry era. Narberth, Pembrokeshire: Ferry Publications. ISBN 1871947405.
  • Harvey, W.J. (1989). Stena Gothenburg 1939–1989. Göteborg: Stena AB. ISBN 9185786411.
  • Harvey, W.J. (2006). Stena: a group fleet history. Windsor: World Ship Society. ISBN 0954331079.
  • Haws, Duncan (1993). Britain's Railway Steamers: Western & Southern Companies + French & Stena. Merchant Fleets series, no. 24. Hereford: TCL Publications. ISBN 0946378215.
  • Haws, Duncan (1993). Britain's Railway Steamers: Eastern & North Western Companies + Zeeland and Stena. Merchant Fleets series, no. 25. Hereford: TCL Publications. ISBN 0946378223.
  • Haws, Duncan (1994). Britain's Railway Steamers: Scottish & Irish Companies + Stena and Macbrayne. Merchant Fleets series, no. 26. Hereford: TCL Publications. ISBN 0946378231.
  • Hendy, John (1993). Ferries of Dover. Staplehurst, Kent: Ferry Publications. ISBN 0951350692.
  • Hendy, John (1997). Ferry Port Dover: the development of cross-channel vehicle ferries, their services and allied infrastructure. Staplehurst, Kent: Ferry Publications. ISBN 1871947472.
  • Merrigan, Justin P.; Collard, Ian H. (2010). Holyhead to Ireland: Stena and its Welsh heritage. Chalford, Gloucestershire: Amberley Publishing. ISBN 9781848689589.
  • Peter, Bruce (2012). Stena Line: Celebrating 50 years of service. Ramsey, Isle of Man: Ferry Publications. ISBN 9781906608507.
  • Sahlsten, Rickard; Söderberg, Bertil; Bång, Krister. Stena Line's Ships 1962–1992. Göteborg: Stena Line. OCLC 476605445.
  • Widdows, Nick (2011). Stena Line: the fleet. Ramsey, Isle of Man: Ferry Publications. ISBN 9781906608415.
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