Ro-Pax

Stena Line adds ferry to Baltic Sea service

Baird Maritime

Stena Line has confirmed that the 2008-built Ro-Pax ferry Stena Livia will be deployed on the Nynäshamn-Ventspils service beginning in mid-April as part of the company's expansion of its Baltic Sea operations.

The vessel, which has capacity for 750 passengers and up to 2,250 lane metres for freight, will join sister Stena Flavia in serving the route. Later this year, the two ferries will replace the existing tonnage on the ferry route between Travemünde and Liepaja, adding 40 per cent freight capacity and shortening the crossing time from 27 to 20 hours.

Stena Line said the allocation of Stena Livia and Stena Flavia to the Travemünde-Liepaja route will enable a reliable transport service with a fixed timetable with 12 weekly departures, six in each direction. The vessels will also offer improved onboard facilities and increase the number of cabins.

Stena Livia and Stena Flavia will be replacing the chartered vessel Scottish Viking on the Nynäshamn-Ventspils route as the latter vessel will be returned to its owner.

Later during the year, the two large and modern Ro-Pax vessels Stena Scandica and Stena Baltica will start operating on the Nynäshamn-Ventspils route, adding 30 per cent freight capacity.