MS Stena Scandica is a RoPax ferry, owned by Stena Line and it operates on the Baltic Sea between Nynäshamn, Sweden and Ventspils, Latvia.

Stena Lagan entering the River Mersey in 2012.
History
Name
  • Lagan Viking (2005–2010)
  • Lagan Seaways (2010–2011)
  • Stena Lagan (2011–2021)
  • Stena Scandica (2021–)
Owner
  • Levantina Trasporti Srl (2005–2012)
  • Stena Ropax Ltd (2012– )
Operator
Port of registry
Route
BuilderCantiere Navale Visentini
Yard number212
Launched5 February 2005
CompletedJuly 2005
Maiden voyage2005
Statusin service
General characteristics [1]
Tonnage26,500 GT (as built)
Length
  • 186.6 m (612 ft) (as built)
  • 222 m (728 ft) (2020-21 rebuild)[2]
Beam25.6 m (84 ft)
Draught6.63 m (21.8 ft)
Deck clearance
  • 4.9 m (16 ft) (height)
  • 5.3 m (17 ft) (width)
Installed power21,600 kW (29,000 hp) at 500 rpm
Propulsion
  • 2 x MAN B&W 9L 48/60B diesel engines
  • 2 × Controllable pitch propellers
  • 2 × bow thrusters
Speed24 kn (44 km/h; 28 mph)
Capacity
  • 980 passengers and crew (As built. Restricted to 720 passengers by Stena)
  • 970 passengers (2020-21 rebuild)
NotesShip lengthened during 2020-21[2]

History

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Stena Scandica was built in July 2005, as Lagan Viking, entering service with Norse Merchant Ferries later the same month. It was named after the River Lagan, the principal river in Belfast.[3] A few months later, Norse Merchant Ferries was acquired by Norfolkline.

In July 2010, Norfolkline was acquired by DFDS. The vessel was renamed Lagan Seaways during her refit in August 2010. Later that same year, DFDS sold its Northern Irish operations to Stena Line.[4] The sale included the BelfastBirkenhead route and Lagan Seaways' sister ship, Mersey Seaways. In August 2011, she was renamed Stena Lagan[5]

 
Lagan Seaways in Belfast

In March 2020, Stena Edda arrived from China to replace Stena Lagan on the Belfast to Birkenhead route. Stena Lagan departed for Tuzla, Istanbul on 14 March 2020, for lengthening with a 36 m (118 ft) midsection.[2][6] Beside the lengthening, she received a new bow.[7] The ship was renamed Stena Scandica before the end of 2020.[8]

On August 29, 2022 a fire started in a cooling container on the car deck whilst en route to Latvia, close to Gotska Sandön off the Swedish east coast.[9][10] Although the crew could extinguish the fire without injuries, it caused a loss of power, and the ferry drifting towards the coast of Gotland. Several passengers were evacuated by helicopter to the nearby ferry M/S Visby who continued toward Gotland. After several hours, two of the engines could be started. On August 30, Stena Scandica arrived in Nynäshamn, Sweden under her own power.[11][12]

Route

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Stena Lagan operated on the Irish Sea, on the Birkenhead to Belfast route, with her sister ship Stena Mersey. In all, the total journey time on board the ship was 8 hours.[13] From early 2021, Stena Scandica operates on the Baltic Sea between Nynäshamn, Sweden and Ventspils, Latvia.[2]

On board

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Stena Lagan carried up to 720 passengers.[14] As Stena Scandica, the ship's capacity was increased to 970 passengers, with the 2020-21 lengthening of the ship.[2][15]

References

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  1. ^ "STENA LAGAN". Stena Line Freight. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Stena Line's Modernized Ferry Pair". Maritime Reporter. January 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  3. ^ "Stena Lagan - Passenger ship, IMO 9329849, MMSI 311000955, Callsign C6EO6, Flag Bahamas - vesseltracker.com". www.vesseltracker.com.
  4. ^ "Stena ends Larne to Fleetwood line and buys Belfast routes". BBC News. 3 December 2010. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
  5. ^ "M/S LAGAN VIKING (2005)". www.faktaomfartyg.se.
  6. ^ "Farewell Stena Lagan! Belfast to Liverpool veteran leaves the UK for rebuilding". 14 March 2020.
  7. ^ "STENA LAGAN's lengthening and conversion project reaches major stage". 7 September 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  8. ^ "Stena Line reveals the names of the new Baltic Sea vessels". Ships Monthly. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Schweden: Fähre nach Brand im Hafen angekommen".
  10. ^ "Schweden: Fähre nach Brand in schwedischem Hafen angekommen". Die Welt. 30 August 2022.
  11. ^ Ekström, Kajsa (30 August 2022). "Stena Scandica väntas nå Nynäshamn vid 11-tiden på tisdagsförmiddagen". SVT Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  12. ^ Stena ferry drifting in the Baltic after truck fire was extinguished, marine-executive.com, August 30, 2022
  13. ^ "Timetables". Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  14. ^ "STENA LAGAN / STENA MERSEY (C.N. Visentini 212/213) - NI Ferry Site". NI Ferry Site. 22 October 2021.
  15. ^ "Stena Line ships to be lengthened in Turkey have new names!". Sea News Turkey. 17 February 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
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