China's AVIC Weihai Shipyard has cut the first steel for a third Ro-Pax ferry ordered by Swedish operator Stena Line.
The vessel will be one of a planned three E-Flexer class ships that Stena intends to operate in the Irish Sea.
The first vessel is scheduled to be delivered in 2020 while the second and third ships will be delivered the following year.
The first E-flexer class ship will operate on the Holyhead to Dublin route while the remaining two ships will be introduced on the Liverpool to Belfast route.